After the excitement of the Easter Vigil, the period of mystagogy can often be overlooked by the initiation team and the neophytes. However, it is an essential part of the Christian initiation process because it helps the neophytes deepen their relationship with Christ and with the Church. Mystagogical reflection is an important part of the spiritual growth of all parishioners—from neophytes to lifelong Catholics—because it invites the faithful to reflect on their encounters with Christ in the sacraments and then consider the transformative effects those encounters have on their daily lives. A Guide to the Period of Mystagogy encourages members of the initiation team to make the most of this period and provides practical support to do so. It includes: An overview of six foundational principles of initiation ministry and how they are applied to the period of mystagogy Theological insights from the early Church’s practice of mystagogy Practical advice for implementing mystagogical reflection in your parish Nine mystagogical reflection sessions that can be used during Easter Time Fifteen mystagogical reflection sessions that can be used during the first year following initiation Encouragement to celebrate the first anniversary of baptism and to incorporate mystagogical reflection into the ongoing faith formation of the whole parish community

Mystagogy: A Monastic Reading of Dionysius Areopagita proposes an interpretation of the Pseudo-Dionysian corpus in light of the liturgical and ascetic tradition that defined the author and his audience. Characterized by both striking originality and remarkable fidelity to the patristic and late neoplatonic traditions, the Dionysian corpus is a coherent and unified structure, whose core and pivot is the treatise known as the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. Given Pseudo-Dionysius' fundamental continuity with earlier Christian theology and spirituality, it is not surprising that the church, and in particular the ascetic community, recognized that this theological synthesis articulated its own fundamental experience and aspirations. Alexander Golitzin is professor emeritus of patristics at Marquette University and a bishop in the Orthodox Church. He specializes in the origins of Eastern Christian ascetical and mystical tradition. He is the author of `Et introibo ad altare Dei': The Mystagogy of Dionysius Areopagita (Patriarchal Institute); St. Symeon the New Theologian on the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses, 3 vols. (St Vladimir's Seminary Press); and New Light from the Holy Mountain (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press), as well as several studies collected in The Theophaneia School: Jewish Roots of Christian Mysticism, ed. AndreiOrlov and Basil Lurie (Gorgias).

Liturgy and catechesis should happen together. We've brought together liturgists, catechists, pastoral ministers and academic experts to address how a parish might pastorally care for families who are bringing their children to the church for baptism. These essays discuss pre-education, training for catechists, timing of the rites, and the homily.

Creating an Effective Mystagogy looks at the important but often overlooked period of Mystagogy in the Christian initiation process. Chriszt looks at some current parish practices of mystagogical catechesis and at the Church's vision of mystagogy and brings them into conversation with each other. From there he derives suggestions for current practice.

Explore the deeper meaning of Eucharistic celebration with a highly regarded expert on liturgy. In Mystagogy of the Eucharist Gilbert Ostdiek, OFM, draws on ritual actions, liturgical symbols, prayer texts, and reflective commentary to help participants in the liturgy name and reflect on the meaning that Eucharist has for daily life. This book is offered as a practical, pastoral resource for those engaged in the ongoing formation of worshipers and their liturgical ministers.

For far too long the Bible has been studied as just one among many historical and cultural documents from ancient history. That it is a foundational text for Western civilization is clear. What is too often forgotten or ignored in academic discussions, however, is that the Bible has also inspired the lives of countless saints throughout history; men and women who sought to love God and love neighbor to the point of offering heroic sacrifices, sometimes giving up their very lives. Much of biblical scholarship over the past two centuries, however, has reduced the Bible to a dead historical document with little-to-no relevance for today, beyond intellectual curiosity. This, in part, lies at the root of the tragic separation of theology from biblical studies. That theology and biblical exegesis are at an impasse has become a commonplace in academic discourse. Liturgy and Sacrament, Mystagogy and Martyrdom is an attempt to bridge the gap between theology and exegesis. It seeks to develop a theological interpretation of Scripture relying upon the best of traditional Christian exegesis and modern biblical scholarship, so that the Bible can serve, once again, as the wellspring of Christian life.

In Tradition and Innovation, Nathan Witkamp convincingly argues that Narsai of Nisibis’ (d. ca. 503) baptismal rite and mystagogy, as portrayed in his Liturgical Homilies 21-22, are much less dependent on Theodore of Mopsuestia (ca. 350-ca. 428) than scholars have previously supposed. Narsai’s baptismal rite turns out to represent a particular East Syrian liturgical tradition, independent of Theodore. In his mystagogy, Narsai uses Theodore’s Baptismal Homilies 1-3 as just one source among others to create the artwork he desires. This detailed comparative study contributes to our understanding of rite and mystagogy in Theodore and Narsai within the broader early Syrian context, as well as to the reception of Theodore by Narsai and the East Syrian Church.

"A Liturgical Press book."Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral)--Pontifical Gregorian University at Rome, 1992. Includes bibliographical references and index.