Ethan Walker
Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app founded by Alex Jones, who grew up Catholic but lost his faith as a teenager. The app provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music. It is designed to help users build a routine of prayer and journey through the content together. While the app is exclusively for Catholics, it welcomes people of all faiths and political backgrounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alex Jones |
| Co-founders | Erich Kerekes, Alessandro DiSanto |
| Owner | Hallow, Inc. |
| CEO | Alex Jones |
| Type of app | Catholic prayer and meditation |
| Content | Audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, Christian music, podcasts, Gregorian chants, etc. |
| Other features | Community challenges, daily prayers, curated music, praylists, options to set prayer routines, journaling |
| Language | English, Spanish |
| Funding | $50 million in 2021 |
| Notable investors | Peter Thiel, Drive Capital |
| Notable endorsers | Mark Wahlberg, Russell Brand, Jim Caviezel, Pope Francis |
| Notable prayer givers | Emily Wilson, Sarah Swafford, Jason Evert, Matt Fradd |
| Journaling | Yes |
| Subscription | Yes |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Hallow app is a Catholic prayer and meditation app
- It is exclusively for Catholics, unlike other religious apps
- The app has been endorsed by the Catholic Church in Scotland in 2025
- It features Catholic social media influencers and controversial Catholic figures
- The app has been criticised for its marketing tactics and use of celebrity endorsers
The Hallow app is a Catholic prayer and meditation app
Hallow has been endorsed by the Catholic Church in Scotland and has partnerships with Catholic organizations and influencers. The app aims to provide content that is 100% authentically Catholic and in line with the Catholic Church's teachings. It has raised funding from investors to create Catholic-focused content and has gained popularity among Catholics worldwide.
The app has received some criticism for its use of "influential Catholics" in marketing, such as Mark Wahlberg, who may not be considered traditional Catholic influencers. However, the app has also received positive reviews for its content and user interface. Some users appreciate the convenience of having Catholic-related media and prayers on their phones, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when churches were closed.
Hallow provides a digital platform for Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and connect with other Catholics worldwide. It offers a variety of prayer and meditation sessions, ranging from 5 to 15 minutes, making it accessible and convenient for users to incorporate into their daily routines.
The app also has a journaling feature that prompts users to journal after finishing a prayer or meditation. This feature has been well-received, as it allows users to jot down their thoughts and reflections immediately after their prayer session, even if they don't have a physical prayer journal with them. Overall, Hallow has filled a gap in the market by providing a high-quality, authentic Catholic app that caters to the spiritual needs of its users.
The Dark Ages: Catholic or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Halo: Season Two [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61iyr3YyOWL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
It is exclusively for Catholics, unlike other religious apps
The Hallow app is exclusively for Catholics, unlike other religious apps such as Glorify, which cater to a wider Christian audience. Hallow was founded by Alex Jones, a Catholic who lost his faith as a teenager and then reverted to Catholicism through meditation. The app is designed to assist others in a similar situation.
Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that markets itself as a Catholic reimagining of secular, meditative apps such as Calm and Headspace. It provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music. The app also includes community challenges and daily prayers such as the Catholic practice of Lectio Divina, curated music, praylists, and options to set prayer routines.
Hallow's content is 100% authentically Catholic and in line with the Catholic Church's teachings. The app has also been officially endorsed by the Catholic Church in Scotland. It is focused on providing a Catholic perspective on meditation and prayer, rather than the eastern meditation techniques taught by secular apps.
While Hallow is exclusively for Catholics, it welcomes people of all faiths and political backgrounds to join the Hallow community and pray together. The app aims to be inclusive and non-judgmental while remaining true to Catholic doctrine.
CCLI: Catholic Organization or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The app has been endorsed by the Catholic Church in Scotland in 2025
The Hallow app is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that markets itself as a Catholic reimagining of secular, meditative apps such as Calm and Headspace. The app is entirely audio-based and features recordings of people reading Bible passages, prayers, Catholic music, and Gregorian chants. It also includes podcasts, such as the Bible in a Year, and guided lectio divina reading.
Hallow was founded by Alex Jones, Erich Kerekes, and Alessandro DiSanto in December 2018. Jones, who grew up Catholic, lost his faith as a teenager but later reverted to Catholicism through meditation. He wanted to create a platform to help others in similar situations. The app launched in Spanish in January 2022 and, as of February 2022, has been downloaded more than two million times.
In April 2025, the Catholic Church in Scotland officially endorsed the Hallow app. This endorsement is a significant milestone for the app and indicates that its content aligns with the teachings of the Catholic Church. The app has also been well-received by Catholics worldwide, with many appreciating its fast and glitch-free performance and extensive range of features.
The Hallow app has also attracted investment from prominent figures and organizations. In November 2021, the company raised $40 million in Series B funding from investors such as Peter Thiel and Drive Capital. This funding has helped the app expand its content and reach a wider audience.
While the Hallow app is primarily focused on Catholics, it welcomes people from all faiths and across the political spectrum. The app aims to be inclusive and non-judgmental while ensuring that its content aligns with Catholic Church teachings. This endorsement by the Catholic Church in Scotland further reinforces the app's alignment with Catholic doctrine.
Catholics' Plight in US History: Discrimination and Persecution
You may want to see also
It features Catholic social media influencers and controversial Catholic figures
The Hallow app is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that markets itself as a Catholic reimagining of secular meditative apps such as Calm and Headspace. The app features Catholic social media influencers and controversial Catholic figures.
Popular Catholic social media influencers who have created sponsored content for the app include YouTuber Emily Wilson, whose most popular videos are vlogs of her experience abstaining from sex until marriage. Wilson is not the only "chastity influencer" on the app; another is Sarah Swafford, a speaker for the Chastity Project, an organisation that preaches that "safe sex is a lie" to schoolchildren. Jason Evert, the Chastity Project's founder, also offers Psalms of Hope on Hallow. Matt Fradd, a public speaker who frequently collaborates with Evert, reads a prayer on the app and is a vocal proponent of living a "porn-free" life.
In addition to mainstream celebrities, Hallow has also platformed other more right-wing US Catholics. For example, Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ", has been featuring in ads and leads the Stations of the Cross on the app as part of their Lenten prayer offerings. In 2021, he spoke at two QAnon conferences, including one in Las Vegas where he delivered a rambling speech on the need to fight Satan and liberal values.
Hallow has also featured Mark Wahlberg, who spoke about his faith on NBC's "Today Show" as a paid spokesperson for the app. While some have criticised this as far-fetched, others have praised Wahlberg for using his platform to try and draw people to the Church.
Exploring Israel's Catholic Sites: How Many Days Needed?
You may want to see also
The app has been criticised for its marketing tactics and use of celebrity endorsers
The Hallow app is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that markets itself as a Catholic reimagining of secular, meditative apps such as Calm and Headspace. The app provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music. It also features community challenges and daily prayers such as the Catholic practice of Lectio Divina, curated music, praylists, and options to set prayer routines.
While the app has gained popularity, it has also faced criticism for its marketing tactics and use of celebrity endorsers. Some users have expressed discomfort with the app's advertising strategy, which features "influential Catholics" who may not align with traditional Catholic figures. For example, the app has featured celebrity endorsements from actors Mark Wahlberg and Jim Caviezel, who have delivered prayers or appeared in advertisements. While some users appreciate the publicity these figures bring to the app, others have found it too "commercialized" and questioned the authenticity of these endorsements.
In addition to mainstream celebrities, the app has also been criticized for platforming controversial Catholic figures and right-wing US Catholics. These include chastity influencers like Sarah Swafford, who is associated with the Chastity Project, an organization that spreads misinformation about safe sex to schoolchildren. By featuring such figures, the app has been accused of presenting fringe elements as having mainstream views.
Furthermore, the app has been called out for its use of social media influencers to create sponsored content and deliver prayers. These influencers may have personal beliefs or agendas that not all users agree with, potentially creating a disconnect between the app's stated values and the beliefs of its endorsers.
The Hallow app's marketing tactics and celebrity endorsements have sparked debates among its users and critics. While some appreciate the app's efforts to reach a wider audience, others question the authenticity and potential commercialization of its content. These criticisms highlight the complexities of navigating religious content in a digital age and the challenges of maintaining a non-judgmental and inclusive environment while also adhering to specific theological teachings.
Joining Freemasons: Excommunication for Catholic Members?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Halo app is exclusively for Catholics. All the content on the app is in line with Catholic Church teachings. However, the app is open to people of all faiths.
The Halo app features audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music. It also has community challenges, daily prayers, curated music, praylists, and options to set prayer routines.
The Halo app was founded by Alex Jones, Erich Kerekes, and Alessandro DiSanto in December 2018. Jones, who grew up Catholic, lost his faith as a teenager but later reverted to Catholicism through meditation.
The Halo app offers a free version and a paid subscription. The subscription fees help sustain the app and its employees to ensure users have access to Catholic-related media.
