Vinayasādhana

Way Forward for Psycho-Spiritual Intervention

Thomas Joseph Parayil — 2026-07-18

An Integrative and Transformative Way Forward

Editor — 2026-07-18

Psychotherapy and Mystical Theology: Melanie Klein and Hadewijch of Antwerp in Conversation

Simon Holland-Brown — 2026-07-18

This article examines and compares the writings of the medieval mystic Hadewijch of Antwerp and the theories of the psychoanalyst Melanie Klein. Initially, both figures are presented in the context of the world and environment from which they wrote. Klein is then explored through three particular elements of her object relations theory: splitting, the paranoid-schizoid position and the depressive position. Hadewijch’s mystical theology is then explored through her poems, letters and visions; her world, where all is love and paradox, is presented through three main themes: the abyss, the Trinity and Christ. Hadewijch’s place in the 20th Century is explored, as is Klein’s situation in the 14th Century. Both these contexts are then brought together in the subjective world of the writer in the 21st Century to consider their relevance, compatibility, similarities and differences. Concluding thoughts bring together the psychospiritual evolution of our subjective world, from schism to holding the tension of opposites in paradox.

From Labels to Light: Resilience, Faith, and Transformation

Crystal Nikita — 2026-07-18

Children and adolescents with special needs are often burdened with labels such as “failure,” “intellectually deficient,” or “hopeless case,” which can diminish their identity and self-worth. Drawing from over a decade of experience as a special educator and educational psychologist, this paper explores how diagnoses, though clinically necessary, do not define an individual’s potential. Instead, resilience, faith, timely psychological intervention, and consistent support systems play transformative roles in fostering holistic development. Historical figures such as Helen Keller, Albert Einstein, and Louis Braille exemplify how limitations need not determine destiny. In the context of rising mental health concerns and suicide rates among youth, this article emphasises early intervention, parental involvement, and professional guidance. Transformation is presented as a nonlinear yet attainable journey that requires perseverance, faith, and structured therapeutic support. Ultimately, individuals are empowered not merely to cope with adversity but to convert setbacks into purpose and lasting impact.

Algorithmic Pleasures & Human Happiness

Sunny Kuruvilla Maniyakuparayil — 2026-07-18

This article explores the profound ontological tension between the exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the persistent decline in global mental well-being. Drawing upon the Vatican Note, Antiqua et Nova (2025), it argues that while AI serves as a Titan of Functionality capable of accomplishing unprecedented material abundance, it remains fundamentally incapable of satisfying the deeper human longing for genuine peace and joy. The study utilises Erich Fromm’s existential framework to categorise algorithmic pleasures within the Having mode of existence—a state characterised by consumption and quantitative metrics that fails to enrich the human soul. By contrast, authentic happiness is presented as a Being mode activity, rooted in the Aristotelian concept of Eudaimonia and the hylomorphic unity of the human person. The article further dwells upon the irreducible differences between the purely calculative mechanisms of AI (Ratio) and the contemplative, embodied, and relational nature of integral human intelligence (Intellectus). It concludes that authentic human happiness cannot be engineered through algorithms but must flow from a profound appreciation and comprehensive exercise of the Imago Dei within integral human intelligence.

Shepherding in Tragic Times: A Reflective Study on Catholic Leadership

Sahaya Roselin — 2026-07-18

In moments of deep tragedy, ranging from war, persecution, pandemics, and social unrest, the Catholic Church has turned to its shepherds for prophetic vision, spiritual strength, and moral clarity. This study offers a reflective analysis of Catholic leadership through key historical episodes, examining how selected Popes responded to crisis with pastoral wisdom, theological conviction, and institutional resilience. Drawing on case studies including Pope Gregory the Great’s response to the plague in the sixth century, Pope Pius XII’s wartime diplomacy during the Holocaust, Pope John Paul II’s moral resistance to Communism, Pope John XXIII’s promotion of peace and dialogue during the Cold War, and Pope Francis’s guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, the article explores how ecclesial leaders embody the role of the Good Shepherd in tragic times. Their legacy reveals a Church that suffers, adapts, and ultimately endures through fidelity to Christ’s mission. By integrating historical events with theological insight, this article contributes to the discourse on Church leadership in times of adversity and offers pastoral strategies for today’s ecclesial challenges.

A Religious Response to Magnifica Humanitas: Artificial Intelligence and the Prophetic Mission

Vibin Varghese Pullanpilly — 2026-07-18

The accelerating development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has initiated a profound transformation in human self-understanding and moral reasoning. This article offers a religious response to the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (MH), a critical ecclesial intervention addressing the perils of the technocratic paradigm. Focused on the prophetic vocation of religious life, this study explores the significant religious notions, metaphorical nuances and deeper meaning of the encyclical through a fundamental choice between technocratic self-sufficiency and relational communion grounded in divine grace. Within this framework, the study develops the concept of the ‘Babel syndrome’ as a critical hermeneutic for understanding the dehumanising tendencies of AI-driven cultures, particularly their reduction of persons to data, efficiency, and performance metrics. In response, the article retrieves the Nehemiah paradigm of shared responsibility, subsidiarity, and prayerful discernment as a constructive ecclesial model for engaging technological modernity. This work further proposes three dimensions of religious prophetic response, such as ecclesial conversion, digital mission, and ascetical ‘digital sobriety’ as essential practices for sustaining interior freedom and theological discernment in the digital age. Ultimately, the article contends that the encyclical calls religious communities to reimagine their mission as participation in the construction of a ‘civilisation of love,’ where technology is subordinated to human dignity and oriented toward communion, solidarity, and eschatological hope.

Laudato Si’ Through the Lens of Positive Psychology: Reflections and Implications for Formators and Spiritual Counselling

Thomas Joseph Parayil — 2026-07-18

Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015) has been widely recognised as a landmark contribution to ecological ethics, social justice, and contemporary spirituality. While much scholarly attention has focused on its environmental and socio-political dimensions, the document also offers profound insights into human flourishing, meaning, relationships, and spiritual well-being. These themes resonate strongly with contemporary positive psychology, particularly its emphasis on virtues, character strengths, meaning, gratitude, connectedness, and holistic well-being. This reflective article explores Laudato Si’ through a positive psychology framework and examines its relevance for formators, and spiritual counsellors. The paper argues that Pope Francis’ vision of “integral ecology” provides a comprehensive model of human flourishing that transcends individualistic notions of well-being and emphasises interconnectedness with God, self, others, and creation. The article concludes by highlighting practical implications for formation and counselling contexts.