Certainly, a person can jump right into a mystagogy group. However, starting small group work for a lot of people can be like getting into an unfamiliar pool. Approaching the pool might involve checking out whether this will be a solo swim or with others are in or around. Scoping out the pool might also include walking around it first, putting a hand or a toe in to find out if it’s warm or cold, make sure there’s no dirt or debris on the bottom, and even then, getting in the first time by easing down the steps or a pool ladder.
Mystagogy can be wonderful and cool but in my experience, people may have many misgivings about jumping in. I have written a couple books that may help people get started in seven steps.
Step 1: Prioritize what’s most central. Many people are dechurching and confused by what they hear about their faith. When faced with a similar situation Jesus sat down in a boat and used seven parables to outline his message (Matthew 13). Jesus’ priorities were to emphasize the beginning of the life of faith (listening well), the middle (bearing good fruit—weeds and the wheat), and the end (being sorted by the angels). In his parables we benefit from life in the Church by finding safety (birds in the mustard tree) and by being transformed (like leaven in bread). We personally benefit from faith by finding a new identity (the pearl) and finding a treasure in our field of service. All that and more is in Hear the Word: Reflections on Seven Parables of Jesus.
Step 2: Attend to religious experiences. The Holy Spirit still acts through actual grace, that is, the grace that enables us to act. Our job is to learn how to “hear” and respect the Spirit’s work in us. Two great saints, St. John Newman and St. John Paul, emphasize that without those graces putting faith into action is impossible. Two great psychologists, William James and Abraham Maslow, point the way to recognize and support those religious experiences. The Catholic Psychotherapist and Religious Experience: Theory, Practice, and Witness is an introduction to the role of actual grace in mystagogy.
Step 3: Learn Discernment through Telling your story. Telling your story and comparing it to Jesus’ parables is a way of learning discernment and becoming a better Christian witness. Theologically, philosophically, and psychologically, all our life’s trauma, life-lessons, and much more are all connected to our story. Recognizing what God is doing in our lives is good for us and good for others to hear. Discernment through Parables and Stories is designed to help us start telling our story and telling our story and no one other’s story is our task in mystagogy.
Step 4: Begin to work through our sexuality. After all, 20% of the commandments are about sexuality and the Catechism (#2514-2527) makes it clear that learning to understand the great gifts of sexuality is a lifelong task. In our sexualized and values-free world, Sex, Gender, Fantasy, and Desire: Through the Lenses of Christian Anthropology and Catholic Psychotherapy provides the words and categories to continue to appreaciate our sexuality through the lens of Christian anthropology and the faith-vision that the Christian family is potentially an image of the Trinity.
Step 5: Explore what Mystagogy leadership means. The word mystagogy means “to lead through the mysteries” and is the fourth period of the catechumenate. It is part Vatican II’s renewal of the rites of initiation is largely underestimated. Learn about mystagogy’s potential and challenges. Namely, the focus is on becoming more competent as a Catholic Christian living the great commandment. There is much to learn to become a loving witness to your faith. The Competency-Based Parish Mystagogy: Leader’s Guide; Ascent Through the Purgative Period offers an introduction to becoming a catechetical leader in mystagogy. [642 word]
Step 6: Consider Mystagogy itself as an Option for Small Group study. Countless other small group study guides exist, but this study can help us think about our ascent to God a staircase with three flights and three landings. The task on the first landing is to get sin out of our lives. The task for the second is to become disciples of Jesus, and the task for the third is to begin to live the resurrected life in, with, and by the Holy Spirit. The steps in each period are the beginnings, middle, and end of each period but our actual steps in a period may be countless. Mystagogy Tames the Wandering Demon: Participant’s Workbook is a sample group workbook for the first period.
Step 7: Focus on Group Work. We turn to mystagogical group work with Jesus’ promise in mind, “For where two or three (or more) are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20). None of us becomes a perfect friend or Christian in one step. Rather, we gain the virtue necessary for true friendship by learning and being with others. That’s hard work but if we follow the adage, “some assembly required,” we can begin to learn that we can trust Jesus to guide your groups, provided that we are open to the nudging of “The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you.”
Deacon Ray Biersbach
February 24, 2025
