Jesus taught that God cares less for external expressions and is far happier with inner disposition.

Mystic Mantra: Ash Wednesday: Let’s embark on a spiritual voyage

The Church helps the faithful live the spiritual life, asking us to perform inner conversion by offering especially prepared liturgical worship.

26 Feb 2020 6:43 AM

While mystics and saints emphasise the importance of silence in one’s search for God, modern day psychologists suggest silence even as therapy. (Photo: AFP)

Mystic Mantra: Silence is a route towards God

I have been privileged to spend the last few weeks at some spiritual centres and will do so in the next two months too.

14 Feb 2020 2:32 AM

Mystic Mantra: Remembering Gandhian non-violence on Martyrs’ Day

The world was wonderstruck at how Gandhiji, then armed with nothing but potent non-violent armaments.

30 Jan 2020 4:24 AM

The Bible teaches us that we are “created in the image and likeness of God”.

Mystic Mantra: Created in God’s image and likeness

If one goes by the findings of a survey that appeared on the Internet recently, one would be quite discouraged at the start of the year.

15 Jan 2020 1:52 AM

The year 2019 has just gone past and we have barely stepped into 2020, with all its fanfare and undoubtedly with new expectations.

Mystic Mantra: On making New Year plans and resolutions

Thus, in the New Year, one of our resolutions should be to keep God, not just while planning things, but in the centre of everything.

01 Jan 2020 1:40 AM

Tonight, after eight (ideally at midnight), bells of cathedrals and churches in towns and villages around the world will start clinging loud and clear.

Mystic Mantra: On Christmas, experience God’s free gift of peace

The uplifting melodies inspire people get into a spiritual disposition.

24 Dec 2019 1:44 AM

While most of us focus on spiritual preparation to welcome Jesus and by extension welcome others, she evokes a complete turnaround, persuading us to focus on, “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you”.

Mystic Mantra: Who welcomes whom at Christmas?

Even within the realm of spiritual preparation there can be different points of emphases.

17 Dec 2019 7:55 AM

While Christmas itself has several other symbols like the star, the Christmas tree, the little stable signifying where Jesus was born, Advent season too has its own special symbols.

Mystic Mantra: On the meanings behind Advent symbols

The wreath reminds us of both the immortality of our souls and God’s promise of everlasting life to us through Christ.

05 Dec 2019 7:37 AM

The trees have practically shed their leaves. (Photo: AFP)

Mystic Mantra: ‘What fruits do I and my actions produce?’

Despite Austria being a small country, its vast expanse is covered with lovely forests, which many people use for their long walks.

21 Nov 2019 2:34 AM

The four holy gospels in the Bible which inform us about the life, works and teachings of Jesus Christ, though in a gist, have influenced billions of people down the centuries.

Mystic Mantra - The Pope’s beatitudes: Who are the blessed?

The gospels are the most printed and sold books in the world.

07 Nov 2019 2:42 AM

Jesus demonstrated through his life that despite being busy ministering to people during the day, he would find time at “night to go and pray in a lonely place”.

Mystic Mantra: ‘Park & Pray’ and ‘eRosary’ - New ways to pray

The eRosary is a new way to capture the imagination of the tech-savvy generation to pray for peace in the world.

24 Oct 2019 2:19 AM

Mystic Mantra: Canonisation after a life of holiness

There are other saints who acquire their sainthood living active lives, mainly by serving the poor and the needy.

12 Oct 2019 3:43 AM

It is the loving gaze which keeps us away from negative situations, protecting us from physical harm but as well as from spiritual pitfalls and sins. (Representational image)

Mystic Mantra: God keeps His loving gaze on us

The lives of saints show us that those who strive with effort and perseverance do indeed find the Divine within themselves and around them.

26 Sep 2019 1:04 AM

Mystic Mantra: Jesus’ Cross brings healing and meaning

The Exaltation of the Cross as a regular feast day, however, is celebrated since 7th century.

13 Sep 2019 12:06 AM

While science looks at the problem from a practical perspective, it would be inspiring to discover how some holy people, for centuries have found God in nature. (Representational image)

Mystic Mantra: Preserve nature, it is the temple of God

God has placed us there so that nature will proclaim to us His existence, His greatness, His wisdom and all His exalted qualities”.

29 Aug 2019 12:10 AM

Pope Francis wrote precisely on the care of our common home (the earth) in his encyclical Laudato Si, an urgent call to each one to act, more than talk about it.

Mystic Mantra: Experience freedom in being God’s children

Collins, from that distance, suddenly realised that we are all really one and that, indeed, this planet we call home is a finite and fragile place.

15 Aug 2019 5:52 AM

July 20, 1969 Photo when astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA). - On July 21, 1969, US astronaut Neil Armstrong is the first man to step onto the Moon, his teammate Edwin Aldrin joining him around 20 minutes later. (Photo: AFP | File)

Mystic Mantra: When Edwin Aldrin prayed on the moon

There were reports then that approximately at the time when Aldrin prayed on the moon, people in his church on earth too celebrated the Eucharist.

29 Jul 2019 12:10 AM

Mystic Mantra: Gold of character must pass test of fire

God then finds ways of washing and sifting us as thoroughly as possible by providing us His Word and teachings through our scriptures.

18 Jul 2019 2:48 AM

Mystic Mantra: Thomas’ way to belief in Jesus

Thomas’ experience of the risen Jesus eventually led him to his martyrdom, believed to have taken place in Tamil Nadu.

03 Jul 2019 1:04 AM

As human beings we live under the deception that only other people lie who need to be corrected.

Mystic Mantra: And the truth shall set you free

The reason people lie is either out of fear or because they want to be in control of a situation and mostly to get some social or monetary advantages.

20 Jun 2019 3:05 AM

Dominic Emmanuel