The Catholic Planner vs. Alexa

WINTER 2018–2019

WHILE NONE OF THE PACKAGES UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE bear Jesus' name, in a sense they are all given in His name – so why not err on the side of the saints? First-person shooter game? Maybe not. High-speed gaming computer? Dubious. Amazon Echo, aka Alexa? Hmm...

To be clear, we’re not saying there’s anything inherently wrong with Alexa or Google Home or other networked gadgets, and there’s no denying that the technology behind them is amazing. Like everything connected to the Internet, however, they must be used wisely, or they can lead us into questionable choices. God is not part of their algorithms.

That’s where the Catholic Planner comes in. Day-Timer traditionalists will love its sumptuous leather binding; the pages inside have something for everyone: scripture readings, facts about saints, a calendar of feast days, a Path to Sainthood goal-setting tool and a Weekly Retreat with space to record personal prayers. Taken together, the Catholic Planner is an invitation to keep spiritual goals in focus when planning the activities of daily life.

Once that’s taken care of, Alexa can help you out with reminders and check your schedule for conflicts. Just don’t ask, “Alexa, what would Jesus do?”