Since last Sunday’s Super Bowl XV, many on social media and elsewhere have been paying attention to the “He Gets Us” commercial, which seemed to go all in on social justice symbolism. Ta. But another Jesus-related Super Bowl commercial, promoting the Hello prayer app, appeared to have some important Catholic symbols removed, prompting at least one Catholic media outlet to condemn it. Ta.
according to it, Website, Hallow claims to be the “#1 app for Christians and Catholics” for prayer, meditation, and the Bible. Since its founding in 2018, Hallow has enjoyed explosive popularity. faith-based apps To be in the top 10 of the App Store. Mike Schmitz and Bishop Robert Barron, as well as Catholic celebrities such as actor Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roomy, who played Jesus on the hit series “The Chosen,” also contributed to the effort.
Wahlberg and Roomy teamed up to star in Hallow’s Super Bowl ad, and Hallow shared a version of the commercial on several social media platforms. But that version differs from the ad that aired during the big game. catholic world report The main differences between the two versions are all noted to be related to religious imagery.
In the commercial’s opening scene, Wahlberg dips his finger in holy water and enters a Catholic church filled with stained glass windows and familiar Christian icons. Behind the altar is a large statue of Christ inscribed with the message “I AM WHO AM,” a reference to the divine name given to Moses in Exodus. However, the commercial aired on television narrowed the camera range so that the image of Christ was almost completely cut out, leaving viewers without a sense of the church’s full beauty or why it was built in the first place. It had become. .
Left: Original version | Right: On-air versionComposite screenshot of @amplifyunheard X video and Hallow: Prayer and Meditation YouTube video
In the next scene, the family gathers around the table and exchanges blessings before dinner. In the original version, the entire family makes the sign of the cross, a staple of Catholic prayer. The version that aired focuses on a young boy trying his best to make the sign of the cross, but without the family’s united gesture. Instead, the family is shown simply bowing their heads.
Main: Original version | Inset: Broadcast versionComposite screenshot of @amplifyunheard X video and Hallow: Prayer and Meditation YouTube video
Another notable difference between the ads is that a priest marked Rumi’s forehead with a cross of ash in anticipation of Ash Wednesday and Lent, which began just days after the Super Bowl. In the original version, the cross is clearly visible, but in the broadcast version, it is only faintly visible.
Left: Original version | Right: On-air versionComposite screenshot of @amplifyunheard X video and Hallow: Prayer and Meditation YouTube video
Catholic World Report blames Paramount and CBS for this change, but it is currently unclear when the change was made or by whom. Neither CBS nor Harrow responded to Blaze News’ requests for comment.
Two different versions are shown below.
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