Mystagogy Lesson 1

Quoting Stratford Caldecott[1], mystagogy is ‘the stage of exploratory catechesis that comes after apologetics, after evangelization, and after the sacraments of initiation (baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation) have been received’. This is sometimes referred to as a formal stage of education for the newly baptized Christian in living out the faith.

Mystagogy is a process intended for the neophytes to study and explore further into the mysteries and sacredness of the faith. It does not suggest a degree of depth for the study but does suggest ‘learning more!’ The term itself also refers to the period following the reception of the sacraments of initiation. The initial occurrence for the period of the mystagogy, depends on when the sacraments occurred. Normally the initial period occurs from Easter to Pentecost. Constraints or logistics may have this period be shorter or longer.

An extended period may be provided where monthly meetings occur and continue up to the following year’s Holy Week.

Pope Benedicts XVI’s encyclical Sacramentum Caritatis, Section 64, is entitled ‘Mystagogical Catechesis’. There it says:

'‘The Church’s great liturgical tradition teaches us that fruitful participation in the liturgy requires that one be personally conformed to the mystery being celebrated, offering one’s life to God in unity with the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of the whole world... The mature fruit of mystagogy is an awareness that one’s life is being progressively transformed by the holy mysteries being celebrated. The aim of all Christian education, moreover, is to train the believer in an adult faith that can make him a “new creation”, capable of bearing witness in his surroundings to the Christian hope that inspires him.’

From the statements provided above, it can be concluded joining the Catholic Church and learning continually about the meaning of the faith and the sacraments is truly a lifetime commitment. This is part of living a Christian life. This is congruent aspects of your journey. One is which to live a life which continues to yield to the intent of God’s will to be joined to Him.

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[1]Stratford Caldecott (1953-2014) was a Senior Contributor to The Imaginative Conservative. He was the editor of the Humanum Review, and co-editor of Second Spring

 Unfinished Business.

Whether as a newly formed neophyte Catholic or if you have been one for many years, you must never conclude or see the sacraments as a “rite of passage” or something on a “bucket list.”

• Baptized “Check” ,

• Confirmation “Check” ,

• Holy Communion “Check” .

IInstead, what should occur is you take these sacraments with you through life. They begin to transform you towards a closer relationship and ultimate union with God. Your sacrament experience remains with you always as a truth of  knowing God has presented His grace to you as a free gift. With this grace you grow by coming to know God more and more and so you fulfill your place here in this life while on earth. The sacraments equip you with the grace to come to know God, thus becoming His disciple commissioned to fulfill Christ’s call to preach the Kingdom of God.

Until you get to heaven you are essentially an unfinished Christian. To suppose anything else such as Christianity is a “self-made” success, or packaged do-it-yourself kit, would reveal a great misunderstanding on your part and you would do yourself a horrible dis-service.

Christianity is a “Walk” as a way of life. During catechesis it was put to you, your journey in faith is a lifelong pilgrimage. Now as an initiated Christian, you continue learning what life’s journey in and with Christ is all about. As a Christian you have chosen to be on the right road to salvation in the hands of God. Acknowledging this is to also to know you still must journey with others. Along the way from time to time, you get blisters, you get hungry, you will get thirsty and tired. There will even be times when Jesus will have to carry you.

Regardless of suffering and struggles, for the Christian there is joy in the journey. God’s grace deposited in you from the sacraments, provide you with essential tools which will aide you in life’s pilgrimage. For all Christians there is a constant call to draw closer and closer to God. This is what you must do as part of the business of being an “unfinished Christian.”

You grow where God has placed you. You grow and demonstrate Christ’s kingdom with love from where you are currently in life. Eventually you will move on to other situations. In which case you continue. Sometimes you grow up, other time you grow out. You continue to allow Jesus Christ to finish you. 

Piety: Involves the quality of being reverent or religious. This involves giving reverence and worship to God as part of living a holy life.

A Thought on Piety

Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Luke, apply to your pilgrimage and growth in faith. It is never wise convince yourself or portray yourself as being self-righteous, pompous, or overtly pious. False piety is never rewarded by God. False piety is not even acknowledged by God, if so, it is with disdain. Any response from God to false piety is usually one which humbles the proud of heart.

7  He (Jesus)[1]  told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.

8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,

9  and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.

10  Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.

11  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

The parable in Luke’s Gospel suggests you are to be joyful where ever God places you to grow. Until the time where he says; “My friend, move up to a higher position.” Even then, your position is never higher than God’s. Also, God’s idea of “higher” may not be your idea of “higher.” Know this for certain, it is definitely not the world’s idea of “moving higher!” God’s invitation to move higher is not always related to position or have anything to do with stature. God’s prodding or intervention to move you in your station of life is always a move which is meant to draw you closer to His heart.

This move closer to His heart can mean dissolving an imposition or attitude you maintain which is keeping you from closeness with God. In whatever the case may be, His intent is for you to continue to grow and serve where he moves you. Perhaps the last words of the above-mentioned parable are the words spoken to you at the end of your life where; ’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions (family friends and saints) at the table (God’s heavenly banquet in heaven).

Whatever situation you find yourself in, look for God’s light. At times, this can be tough or hard to do. But to always seek and acknowledge to follow God’s will is an act of faith and you grow from it. A profession of your faith where ever God plant’s you, is to yield to God’s gift of grace and maintain a reliance on His grace.

Therefore, you should keep in mind that the invitation or call to be active in ministries, help serve others more closely, or even deeper study of the faith and devotion to God, may be the vehicle God chooses to call you to“…move up to a higher position.”

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[1] Jesus’ name and emphasis added for clarity by the Author

 Living the Mysteries .

As a you begin your life long journey as a Christian, remember Jesus journeys with you. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God will remind you to constantly seek His grace. It is part of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity for God himself to seek to dwell within you. This apparent in His desire to have a relationship with you and allowance of transformation within you (continued conversion) to occur. This is done for the purpose of preparing you to serve Him as a disciple and to promote His Kingdom here on Earth.

What are some ways I can allow this to occur?

It is important to consider several areas. Continued prayers, meditation from the scriptures in the Holy Bible is a beneficial source. The catechism of the Catholic Church is useful in instruction. Having a daily prayer life and frequent prayer devotions. Appealing to the Sacraments as prescribed by the Church. These are the foundational pieces from which to build on. As time goes on additional instruction can be sought in the forms of retreats, books, homilies, and conferences.

During the early stages of RCIA the following scripture from the Acts of the Apostles provided a back drop in relation to instruction. In the Mystagogy it is profitable to remember and reflect on this passage again:

26  Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.”

27  So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,   28  and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29  The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”

30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”[1] 31  He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So, he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.   Acts 8:26-31

This underscores not only some pedagogy of continued instruction of the faith at various intervals in your journey. It also implies there must be a frequency of self-learning through reading as well other venues to learn more about the faith.

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[1][Acts 8:30–34] Philip who is an Apostle of Jesus, is brought by the Holy Spirit  alongside the carriage at the very moment the Ethiopian is pondering the meaning of Isaiah 53:7–8, a passage that Christianity, from its earliest origins, has applied to Jesus Christ, ‘Thee’ anointed one of God who would be the one to suffer for our sins as the “Lamb of God.”;

So, how do I put this into practice? 

First, Grace: The Christian seeks grace from the sacraments and follows what God has revealed. This is done through and with the Church. By doing this the Christian positions their lives to frequently prevail upon the sacraments. For example; the Church instructs the attendance of the mass every Sunday and on Holy days. The frequency of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is needed. 

Second, Prayer: Enter into a Life of Prayer. The Christian is strengthened by prayer. Besides the Sacraments, prayer is next best thing to foster your relationship with God. There are many forms of prayer. Some prayer forms allow you to be positioned to do what God asks. There are prayers for petition or supplication. Others allows you to listen to and know God better. Still others are for gratitude for what God constantly does for you. It is in prayer where you seek to find God in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible as well.

Third, Choices: Choices are made by aligning them to God’s will which in turn allows for transformation. This takes into consideration everything we do on a daily basis. Seek to follow God’s will more and more in everything there is to do. Offer up your daily efforts including all things done well and those not done so well.

Fourth, Commandments: Follow God’s commandments. Especially the two great commandments. Also, in this area seek to learn more about your faith and how to better live these commandments.

[ The Two Great Commandments ]

He (Jesus) said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”                                             Matthew 22:37

The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.                                                   Matthew 22:39

Fifth, Service: With the help of God, seek to serve one another. It is in serving where you often encounter the touch of God. It is in serving where God often chooses to teach more about yourself, your relationship with him and what he may have planned for you. It is often in this area where you learn great humility.

Sixth, Continued Instruction:  Seek opportunities to get additional instructions on the faith. It may be a Bible study, a retreat or workshop, an apologetics course or a special course on specifics of the faith.

It is through the mystery of sacraments[1] “First” that all the faithful servant finds the essential benefit, which is grace from God. It is with God’s sanctifying grace where you can see more clearly God’s direction for you. It is with and in the sacraments where you are strengthened and transformed so that you may serve God while you are here on Earth.

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[1] CCC 1068:  It is this mystery of Christ that the Church proclaims and celebrates in her liturgy so that the faithful may live from it and bear witness to it in the world:

For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, that "the work of our redemption is accomplished," and it is through the liturgy especially that the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.

 The Road To Emmaus

In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 24, there is an encounter of the resurrected Christ by two of His disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus.[1] This occurs shortly after Mary Magdeline discovers the empty tomb and Peter and John run to the tomb to see the evidence and find the Jesus is gone.

The two disciples, one whose name is mentioned as Cleopas, are discussing the events which had recently transpired involving the crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps stunned, bewildered, saddened and maybe even disappointed, they leave Jerusalem. They were trying to make whatever sense they could out of the death of Jesus. They were also trying to figure out the reports they heard about what happened that morning.

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[1] Luke 24:3-35

13 Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.

15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,16but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.  

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?”

19 And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him.

21 But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. 22 Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning  23 and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive.

24  Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

25 And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther.

29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them.

30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

32 Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”

33 So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them 34 who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”

35Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke  24:3-35

In the Gospel (Luke24:3-35) passage above, notice how the two disciples could only begin to make sense as well as identify Jesus through the grace Jesus offered them. Jesus pours His grace onto them in three ways.

First, he walks with them, listens and observes. He is looking into their hearts. In all this he is giving His full attention and presence. God desires greatly to walk with you and hold your hand in his. This is more so for your benefit. This provides you the will and freedom to take stock of your life in order to give up your self-centered ego and cherish the plan God intends for you.

Second, Jesus Christ teaches them. Thus, Jesus continues to show He is the continuing fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy stating “… they shall be taught by the LORD.”

All your children shall be taught by the LORD;

great shall be the peace of your children.          Isaiah 54:13

Through His Holy Spirit, God desires to teach you and provide the truth of who he is for you. God teaches you and helps you see that there are many ideas you may have which need to be discarded or pushed aside. While, there others which you must cherish and follow in order to have a relationship with Him.