(ZENIT News / Rome, 03.04.2025).- Catholic prayer app Hallow today announced Pray40: The Way, beginning on Ash Wednesday. Guiding the Hallow community throughout the global challenge will be priests and religious sisters from all around the world such as Fr. Mike Schmitz (USA), Fr. Salvatore Vitiello (Italy), Hermana Glenda (Spain), Pe. Patrick Fernandes (Brazil), Don Josepe Manglano, and many more. In addition, these men and women will be joined by American actors Jonathan Roumie, Mark Wahlberg, and Chris Pratt, Brazilian television star Juliano Cazarré, Mexican singer Emmanuel, French MMA champion Benoît Saint-Denis, and Le Mans Champion Ferdinand Habsburg.
Annual prayer challenge
The theme of this year’s challenge will be “The Way,” based on the powerful verse John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The annual prayer challenge, now in its sixth year, will draw from the incredible writings of The Way, by St. Josemaría Escrivá. The book, published in 1934 and considered one of the most powerful spiritual texts of the 20th century, is composed of 999 “points,” or considerations, that inspire prayer and meditation.
As part of the prayer challenge, Cardinal Robert Sarah will lead Saturday sessions for English-speaking users focused on meditation in silence, drawn from his book The Power of Silence, to find peace amidst the noise of the world.
“Our Lenten challenge is always our biggest challenge of the year and it’s an honor to get to pray with so many incredible voices and our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world,” said Alex Jones, Hallow CEO and co-founder.
An opportunity to grow spiritually
Pray40 will also feature A Song for Nagasaki, a book published by Ignatius Press on the life of Servant of God Takashi Nagai, who survived the atomic bomb but faced difficulty, heartbreak and, ultimately, conversion.
“Hallow’s Pray40 challenge is a great Lenten opportunity to grow spiritually, combining the inspiring story of Catholic convert and atomic bomb survivor Dr. Takashi Nagai, and spiritual reflections from the great Cardinal Robert Sarah, as he draws on his spiritual classic, The Power of Silence,” said Mark Brumley, president of Ignatius Press. “What a blessing to be able to read these superb works, and to pray along with the Pray40 Challenge.”
Hallow’s Pray40 challenge will launch in eight languages, with participants expected in more than 150 countries.
Additionally, to mark the start of Lent around the world and to invite people into prayer, Hallow is partnering with the Sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer. The famous statue, located in Rio de Janeiro, will be lit up in Hallow purple on Ash Wednesday.
In 2024, nearly 1.7 million people joined Hallow’s Pray40 prayer challenge, leading Hallow to reach #1 in Apple’s AppStore on Ash Wednesday.
To learn more, visit hallow.com/pray40.
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