Useful Links
- Daily Rosary +: https://dailyrosary.cf/
- Rosary api: https://therosaryapi.cf/
In today’s blog post, I’ll delve into the development process behind the Daily Rosary Web App and share the reasons behind its creation. While I won’t delve into design specifics (since I’ve designed it to be customizable by other developers), I’ll focus on the functionality and purpose.
Understanding the Rosary Prayers
The Rosary is a powerful form of prayer in the Catholic tradition. It involves reciting specific prayers based on the day of the week, with each day corresponding to a particular mystery. These mysteries reflect significant events in the life of Jesus and Mary.
The Need for a Dynamic Solution
Before creating my own version of the Rosary app, I explored existing options.
Unfortunately, most of them were static and lacked the features I desired. I faced a challenge: remembering which mystery to pray on a given day.
Additionally, I discovered that the prayers varied on Sundays, depending on the liturgical season (such as Ordinary Time, Lent, or Advent).
Building My Own Solution
Dissatisfied with the available choices, I decided to build my own Daily Rosary Web App.
Here’s how I approached it:
API Search: Initially, I searched for existing APIs related to the Rosary but found none that suited my needs.
Creating an API: Undeterred, I created my own API. However, this required manual updates once a year.
Official Calendar Source: To keep the app accurate, I turned to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Their official liturgical calendar provided the necessary information.
Spreadsheet Integration: Armed with the calendar data, I updated a spreadsheet. Then, I used a free tool developed by Joe N to connect this spreadsheet to the web app.
Voilà !: The result was a functional and precise Daily Rosary Prayer App. It automatically adjusts based on the day and season when you launch it.
Independence and Open Source
I intentionally made the web app independent, hosting it myself. Additionally, I released it as an open-source project. Fellow web developers are free to use it as a foundation for their own versions.
Future Plans
I’m considering adding a color section to the app. However, some days involve multiple colors, so I want this feature to be dynamic. After all, one size doesn’t fit all—whether it’s an app, website, or blog. I encourage you to reflect on your unique needs and those of your users.
Feel free to explore the project on GitHub and even fork it if you find it useful!