Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians

by Scott Hahn, Mike Aquilina

Overview

Until we get to heaven, we're all unfinished Christians.

There are no "self-made" success stories in the spiritual life. No do-it-yourself kits for aspiring saints. That's why Living the Mysteries is ideal for a family member, friend, or fellow parishioner who was recently in the RCIA program and received the sacraments of initiation - baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist - at the Easter Vigil. That's why it's perfect for a lifelong Catholic, too.

The early Church had a process in which a teacher guided seekers through stages of inquiry and purification, culminating in a final phase called "mystagogy" - MIST-a go-gee- "the revelation of the mysteries."

The instruction the early Christians needed is what we all need, no matter when we were baptized, no matter how much theology we've studied. That's because God's mysteries are inexhaustible and, until we get to heaven, we're all unfinished Christians.

Now eight of the early Church's greatest teachers can be your guides as Living the Mysteries presents the wisdom and insights of:

• St. Ambrose
• St. Augustine
• St. Basil
• St. Clement of Alexandria
• St. Cyril of Jerusalem
• St. Gregory of Nyssa
• St. John Chrysostom
• St. Leo the Great

Designed as a devotional - and more - for the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, Living the Mysteries is a rich spiritual resource valuable any time of the year. Each day features:

• A passage from the Church's great teachers that focuses on a relevant point of the mystical or moral life.
• A plan with practical applications for letting that reading inspire your prayer and actions throughout the day.

You will treasure these timeless lessons on gaining eternal life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781592767625
Publisher:	Our Sunday Visitor, Publishing Division
Publication date:	06/03/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	1,022,969
File size:	834 KB

Table of Contents

Chapter 1	On Unfinished Christians	9
Chapter 2	The Way to the Mysteries	17
	Week 1 with St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa An Introduction to the Mysteries	31
1.	St. Basil the Great: The Mystical Tradition	37
2.	St. Gregory of Nyssa: On the Power of Ordinary Things	43
3.	St. Gregory of Nyssa: Through the Maze of Life	47
4.	St. Gregory of Nyssa: Passing Sinless Through the Sea	51
5.	St. Gregory of Nyssa: Actions Speak Louder Than Words	55
6.	St. Gregory of Nyssa: Choosing to Be Born	59
7.	St. Gregory of Nyssa: The Light That Lifts Us Up	63
	Week 2 with St. Cyril of Jerusalem On Baptism and Confirmation	65
8.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Turn from the Old to the New	71
9.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Don't Look Back	77
10.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Naked and Unashamed	81
11.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Remain in Light	85
12.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Planted in a Death Like His	89
13.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: You Are Other Christs	93
14.	St. Cyril of Jerusalem: The Right to Be Called "Christian"	97
	Week 3 with St. Clement of Alexandria On Illumination	101
15.	St. Clement of Alexandria: Be Perfect	105
16.	St. Clement of Alexandria: The Milk of Mother Church	109
17.	St. Clement of Alexandria: One Lord, One Church	113
18.	St. Clement of Alexandria: The Sacred Vine, the Eucharist	115
19.	St. Clement of Alexandria: The Good Father God	119
20.	St. Clement of Alexandria: How to Live Like a Christian	121
21.	St. Clement of Alexandria: The Power of Prayer	127
	Week 4 with St. Ambrose of Milan On the Eucharist	129
22.	St. Ambrose of Milan: A Nation of Priests	135
23.	St. Ambrose of Milan: Keeping Company with Angels	139
24.	St. Ambrose of Milan: Words of Power	143
25.	St. Ambrose of Milan: The Testimony of Christ	149
26.	St. Ambrose of Milan: In Living Memory	153
27.	St. Ambrose of Milan: The Embrace of Love	157
28.	St. Ambrose of Milan: Our Daily Bread	161
	Week 5 with St. Augustine of Hippo On the Church	165
29.	St. Augustine of Hippo: Reading the Signs	171
30.	St. Augustine of Hippo: The Process of Conversion	177
31.	St. Augustine of Hippo: Identification Check	181
32.	St. Augustine of Hippo: To Him, Through Him, In Him	185
33.	St. Augustine of Hippo: Scandals and Sinners in the Church	189
34.	St. Augustine of Hippo: The Church Is the Kingdom	195
35.	St. Augustine of Hippo: The Mystery of the Mass	201
	Week 6 with St. John Chrysostom Ways of Life	207
36.	St. John Chrysostom: The Two Become One Flesh	213
37.	St. John Chrysostom: The Secret to Lasting Love	217
38.	St. John Chrysostom: The Earthly Trinity	221
39.	St. John Chrysostom: No Longer Two	225
40.	St. John Chrysostom: Dare to Live Like an Angel	227
41.	St. John Chrysostom: Everyone's Father, Earth's Ambassador	231
42.	St. John Chrysostom: Those Holy Hands	235
	Week 7 with St. Leo the Great The Glory of God, The Glory of Us All	239
43.	St. Leo the Great: Living History	243
44.	St. Leo the Great: The Old and the New	247
45.	St. Leo the Great: Jesus Lingered for Us	251
46.	St. Leo the Great: Ascend with Jesus	255
47.	St. Leo the Great: The Strength of Faith	259
48.	St. Leo the Great: A Better Way of Knowing	265
49.	St. Leo the Great: Pilgrims on Earth	269
50.	St. Leo the Great: The Fire Still Burns	273
	Sources and References	277
	Mystagogical Texts	278
	General Studies	282