Mystagogy of the Eucharist

Mystagogy of the Eucharist is an excellent resource that weaves together practice and theory. The reflective process which is offered to parish ministers and teachers enables both the catechist and the community to more fully understand the biblical process of mystagogy and its meaning for one's life.

Anyone who has been involved in the study and practice of liturgical catechesis over the past twenty five years has benefitted from the work of Gilbert Ostdiek. Mystagogy of the Eucharist offers a brilliant synthesis: an engaging framework for mystagogical reflection and its flexible application to each segment of the Eucharistic liturgy. What do we do? What does it mean? Whether you are reading this as a liturgist, catechist or first time participant in mystagogical reflection upon the experience of Eucharist, you cannot help but be drawn into Mystery. In responding to the Church's call for new evangelization, I highly recommend this text for anyone facilitating parish faith development or religious formation.

Many people have come to associate mystagogy with the rites of Initiation, it being in the narrow sense the period between Easter and Pentecost. But mystagogy is more than a period of time; it is a way of knowing from ritual experience. Gil Ostdiek applies this principle as he reflects upon the Eucharist drawing upon the liturgical symbols, prayer texts and ritual actions of the Mass. He provides a wonderful pastoral resource for liturgical ministers and those responsible for liturgical formation. Anyone reading this book will come to savor the liturgy to a greater extent knowing the Eucharist from within.

The paschal mystery is the key to understanding our lives as Christians. In Fr. Gilbert Ostdiek's Mystagogy of the Eucharist, pastors and catechists have an invaluable resource to deepen their community's celebration, understanding, and participation in the Eucharist, which is our communal and individual entry into the paschal mystery.

"Like liturgy and catechesis, to do mystagogy well is an art. Yet as with any art, the basic, foundational techniques can be broken down and learned. In this book, Fr. Ostdiek teaches you those basic skills and walks with you step by step on your way to mastering the art of mystagogy. Fr. Ostdiek leads you with passion and poetry to an ever deeper understanding of the mysteries we celebrate, and with substantial catechetical material and practical examples, he shows you how to do the same for others. He invites you to make new connections to your own experience. Preachers, priests, liturgists, all catechists-anyone who wants to help people connect more deeply to the Sunday liturgy-will find the inspiration and confidence they need to be artful guides through whom Christ can open eyes and ignite hearts."

There are manifold riches here for the mystagogical reflection of God's people. I would absolutely use this book with any group of disciples who want to dig more deeply into "why" we do "what" we do. While sound scholarship abounds and sources are well-cited, the text itself is very accessible, practical, and pastoral. It is a fine resource for all engaged in this new renaissance of mystagogical reflection in the life of the church.

This resource will assist parish leaders in creatively forming and immersing parishioners in the symbols of the faith.