Often, we are encouraged to spend time in daily prayer. This can be difficult for many of us –we often start and then falter. However, in a digital landscape filled with notifications and endless scrolling, a new generation of mobile applications is helping believers transform screen time into sacred time. For Catholics seeking to build a sustainable daily prayer habit, digital tools offer accessible entry points into traditional practices—from praying the Rosary to Lectio Divina.

While many apps focus on vast libraries or gamified habit tracking, one long-standing option—now in its 20^th year—stands out for its minimalist approach to daily contemplation: Pray as you Go.

Produced by the Jesuits in Britain, Pray as you Go is designed around a simple premise: helping people pray during the periods of transit and transition in their daily lives—whether on waking, commuting, walking or resting. Unlike apps that require active reading or extensive browsing, Pray as you Go centres on a 10 to 13-minute daily audio framework rooted in Ignatian spirituality.

It begins with the tolling of a church bell, which immediately puts you in the right frame of mind, and eases into opening music from around the world. This also helps us appreciate sacred music and calms us despite the rush of the morning. Scripture is read twice, punctuated by gentle questions that prompt personal reflection such as “What word in this passage caught your attention?” or “Where did you feel God’s presence today?” There is then a pause for personal reflection. Further simple questions invite listeners to reflect before ending the conversation with a closing prayer.

If any of the accompanying songs resonate with you, they are readily available on Spotify, YouTube, Deezer and Tidal. The app is completely free, contains no advertisements and intentionally omits streak trackers or social pressure. The focus remains entirely on the personal encounter with God.

Beyond the daily session, the app includes guided Examens – an Ignatian review of the day – specialized retreat series, prayers for mental health and exercises to help process complex emotions. By bringing the ancient practice of Ignatian reflection to headphones and smartphones, tools like Pray as you Go demonstrate that technology, when thoughtfully designed, can be an effective invitation to quietude and prayer.