Mystagogia

Some years back when I was giving a series of sermons on the structure of the Bible one elderly parishioner complained she didnt need all of this since she'd done her confirmation classes as a teenager. My reply was that possibly may have been a long time ago and each of us, as disciples of Christ, have a duty to on-going learning and formation.

In the past few decades the Roman Catholic Church has revived the ancient Mystagogia. This is the period between Easter and Pentecost when converts and catechumens learn more about the Faith. It was common, for example in Ambrose time, for a newly baptised person to make their first communion at Easter but not fully understand what it was about until they received teaching. At its best Mystagogia can be a time when we can sit down and learn a bit more about the sacraments, the Christian life, stewardship, etc. Mystagogia is then about learning how we live out the Christian life.

The prayer of Thomas Merton seems fitting reflection on this.

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone."
Thomas Merton