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, and St. Leo the Great.
Designed as a devotional 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 and a plan with practical applications for letting that reading inspire your prayer and actions throughout the day.
About the Authors
Scott Hahn is the Fr. Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. Founder and President of the St. Paul Center, Dr. Hahn has been married to Kimberly since 1979; they have six children and twenty-four grandchildren. He is the author or editor of over fifty popular and academic books, including best-selling titles Rome Sweet Home, The Lamb's Supper, and the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible.
Mike Aquilina is author of more than seventy books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. He is co-founder, with Scott Hahn, of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, based in Steubenville, Ohio. Mike serves as contributing editor of Angelus News and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History series published by Ave Maria Press. He has hosted eleven television series on EWTN and is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He is also a songwriter whose works have been recorded by Dion, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Beck, Amy Grant, Carlene Carter, Peter Frampton, and many others.
