Father Dominic Emmanuel
Do all good you can
It was just four days before the 10th anniversary of 9/11 that terrorists struck once again at the gate No. 5 of the Delhi high court, killing 13 people and injuring more than 70. As in the past, the church, along with some citizens of Delhi, took the initiative to organise an inter-faith memorial service, a routine after such sad occasions and natural calamities. Last year when I was organising a similar service and invited a religious leader, he said, “What’s the use of gathering for prayers like this?” and continued, “If you want to have a meeting to plan ‘practical steps’ to fight terrorism, I will come.”
Live, love like Mother Teresa
The 101st birth anniversary of Mother Teresa was celebrated in many parts of the world, and especially at the Mother House of Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, on August 26.
According to the tradition of the Catholic Church, however, one usually observes feasts in honour of saints or the “blessed” on the day they left the world to live in total communion with God forever. Thirteen years ago on this date (September 5), Mother Teresa left the millions who adored her, mourning.
A saint, a youth icon
You are probably aware that in one of the largest branches of Christian denominations, the Catholic church has a tradition of venerating saints. Only three years ago a nun from Kerala, Sr Alphonsa, was declared saint by Pope Benedict XVI.
Lord is my shepherd
After sharing some of my experiences from the scenic environs of Kerala about how spiritual life without God is impossible just as tea leaves (branches) have no life without being attached to the plant;
The soul of our work
When one sees someone deeply engrossed in one’s work, the sentiment immediately expressed by an onlooker is, “Isn’t work really worship (prayer) for his/her?” Depending on the angle from which one views it, work done with sincere intentions using honest means can surely be considered worship, though it would be difficult to regard worship as work unless someone has gone into commercialisation of rituals.
The good shepherd
One can discover something new every day to marvel at in the hills and valleys where one feels that one is literally in the lap of Mother Nature, drinking from her bosom and never being fully satiated. This time it was the sight of, what one could see from a distance, a herd of cows and buffaloes enjoying themselves on the vast green meadows.
Tweeting to God
Among some of the new things that one experiences in the green hinterland during early morning walk is the chirping and twittering of birds in the bushes and trees. Varieties of birds have distinctive sounds such as chirping, twittering, whistling and some, of course, simply singing away. Listening carefully to these birds a little after 5 am can be described as an “out of the world” experience.
Get close to God
I am writing this column and hope to write a few more from the exotic environs of Kerala, often described as “God’s own country”. The large and picturesque green expanse of tea gardens in Kerala is an absolutely gorgeous surrounding. And equally fascinating is the view of men and women plucking tea leaves and tossing them into the baskets on their back.
Life, death & the hereafter
About three weeks ago I was approached by at least three different TV channels to tell them what I (representing the Church, of course) had to say about the news that the world would be coming to an end on May 21, 2011. Last year two other national channels had called several religious leaders, including me, one scientist and even an atheist, to tell them what all of us thought about the prediction
Gift of new life
One of the astounding experiences I had during my first trip to Europe was the sight of a tree in winter. I had arrived in Germany in the month of July when everything was green and beautiful and I particularly remember a cherry tree in the backyard of a family garden. I was totally taken aback when I saw the same tree in December with not a single leaf on it.
