In the last e-edition of Today’s Liturgy with Children we were invited to use a form of mystagogy to connect children more closely to the meaning of the words of the Eucharistic prayer. Mystagogy is an ancient method the Church used with newly initiated Catholic Christians to deepen their experience of baptism and Eucharist. It offers us a chance to reflect on the “so what” factor of being Catholic. For example, we are baptized. So what does that mean in our daily life?

Mystagogy is a flexible method for reflection that can be adapted to any age group and to any experience level. It can focus on any aspect of the Catholic tradition. It can and should include music, poetry, and art. The language, the questions, the amount of silence, and the images are adapted to the group.

This article will suggest a mystagogy on the four ways Christ is always present in his Church (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 7), i.e., in the priest, especially under the sign of bread and wine, in the proclaimed Scriptures, and in the Church, the people gathered. You could explore all four presences in one mystagogy or one section at a time. As you construct the mystagogy, keep in mind the special emphasis on Jesus’ presence in the bread and wine.

Create an environment that recalls the elements of Eucharist. Two small tables can be covered with cloths in liturgical colors. Place a candle and the Lectionary (or a Bible) on one desk and on the other place a candle, the Sacramentary (if possible), a plate with flat bread and a cup with grape juice.

You’ll need slides and a projection screen and perhaps some recorded music. Orient the room so all can see the tables, the screen and, if possible, one another. Assemble up to five slides each: of groups of people in Church, at picnics, at parties; of priests at Mass and other places; of lectors and other people reading from the Lectionary or Bible; and, of various pictures of Communion bread and wine and Communion vessels.

Plan to lead the reflection in this order — people, priest, Scripture, bread and wine. The pattern for the mystagogy is illustrated below for the first two sections. You may want to begin the mystagogy with a familiar song or sing pertinent, well-known song refrains at the beginning of each section. Begin by displaying an iconic image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd or Jesus and children.

Introduction
1. Image of Jesus
2. Perhaps a song like “Song of the Body of Christ” or some other refrain

A. Assembly
1. (Slide of people going into a worship space)
2. Sing refrain and verse 1 of “Song of the Body of Christ” or another suitable song refrain
3. Leader: “How does your family get ready to go to Mass?”
4. (Sharing or silence or writing)
5. Leader: “Our Church teaches that Jesus is present, Jesus is with us, when we gather for Mass and pray and sing.”
6. (Slides of people at Mass.)
7. Leader: “If Jesus is present when we pray and sing, then we have a very important work to do at Mass. What is the work each one of us has to do?”
8. (Sharing or silence or writing)

B. Priest
1. (Slide of priest with collar)
2. Sing refrain and verse 2 of “Song of the Body of Christ” or another suitable refrain
3. Leader: “Our priests are baptized human beings like we are. But they choose to follow God’s call by studying and training for the priesthood. They promise to serve us, God’s people, in a different way from the rest of us. Do you know the names of the priest(s) who serves our parish?”
4. (Sharing or silence or writing)
5. Leader: “Our Church teaches that Jesus is present in the person of the priest when he leads us at Mass.”
6. (Slides of priest at Mass and with people in school or a hospital or at other gatherings)
7. Leader: “If Jesus is present in the person of our priest at Mass, then who do we think is really leading us?”
8. (Sharing or silence or writing)

At the end of the mystagogy there are follow-up questions for writing, drawing, and discussing in small groups:

How is Jesus present outside of Mass? Where do we find/see Jesus in our home and school and neighborhood?

What does it mean to us that Jesus is present in all these ways on Sunday and through the week? Do we act differently? Do we speak differently?

Mystagogy and catechesis walk hand in hand and the children may have questions or you may want to teach more about certain aspects later. During the mystagogy there is no structured teaching and every answer is accepted with “Thank you.”

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Vivian E. Williams is a workshop facilitator and speaker for the Archdiocese of Chicago and nationally. She also has experience as a Catholic school teacher, catechist, and parish cantor. She is the author of Classroom Prayer Basics (ocp.org/products/6102), published by OCP.