Mystagogue

Mystagogie ( " insert into the mysteries " of Greek mystagogein ) originally referred to the training of disciples in an ancient mystery cult. The under -looking priest is called mystagogue.

The early Christian church took over the concept for the introduction of tuition, which was given to the catechumens before their baptism. In particular, the term referred to the last, even given immediately before or after the baptism lessons in this teaching that dealt less with the doctrine of virtue and other life practical issues as with the Christian sacraments. Sermons that emerged in this context are referred to as Mystagogical homilies; handed down to the present day is such a collection of sermons by the church father Cyril of Jerusalem from the 4th century.

In the modern Roman Catholic theology Mystagogie called a special introduction to the Christian faith, which assumes that a believer already knows faith experiences, their meanings are but he does not yet fully clear. Karl Rahner has coined the concept of mystagogic catechesis.