Beginning the Climb up Purgatory Mountain: Souls Who Just Made It Artwork

Mystagogy

In a tradition that dates back to the first centuries of Christianity, many newly initiated Christians were prepared for lives of faith through a formation with spiritual, liturgical, and communitarian dimensions. This period of formation was called mystagogy, a word which, in Greek, means "leading through the mysteries." Our program of mystagogy will have four primary goals: 1) To break open Magisterial teaching on the lay state (selections from Vatican II as well as letters/encyclicals from recent popes) as well as classic spiritual texts to build a thoughtful, practical devotional life; 2) To introduce the various spiritual charisms in the Church (i.e. Dominican, Carmelite, Franciscan, Salesian, etc.) so that they may develop a personal program of spirituality rooted in the uniquely Catholic legacy; 3) To deepen the prayer life through study, communal prayer, the practice of meditation, Mass, and the Liturgy of the Hours; and 4) To establish a fully Catholic life and mission, including a formation in the art of the Church, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and the commitment to a specific personal work of service.

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Mystagogy

Beginning the Climb up Purgatory Mountain: Souls Who Just Made It

May 06, 2023 • Barbara Nicolosi Harrington • Season 3 • Episode 5

We enter the second phase of our journey through the afterlife as we begin Dante’s Purgatorio. This book is the heart of The Divine Comedy in fact and in spirit as it offers real and profound suggestions for reordering our spiritual lives.

To begin we will be considering Cantos I-VII of The Purgatorio, much of which is dedicated to considering those souls who just make it to salvation, whom Dante calls “the Late-Repentant.” If you want a little help following the text, there is a very nice animated summary here.

The music in the introduction and close of this podcast is provided by George Sarah.

This program of mystagogy is hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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Intro:

Hello and welcome to the Mystagogy podcast, hosted by the Adult Faith Programs at Saint Stephen Martyr Church in Chesapeake, VA.

In Greek, the word mystagogy means "leading through the mysteries." In the earliest centuries of Christianity, mystagogy referred to the practice of helping Christians to appreciate more deeply the Christian mysteries into which they had been initiated by baptism, confirmation and reception of the Eucharist.

This present program of mystagogy is being developed and taught by Barbara Nicolosi Harrington, a university professor of screenwriting, cinema, Great Books and theology.

In this first presentation on Dante's Purgatorio, Barbara describes Late-Repentant souls and the antechamber of Purgatory, covering Cantos 1 through 7.

Outro:

Thanks for joining us for this episode of the Mystagogy podcast.

The music for the podcast is provided by George Sarah. Learn more about his music in the show notes.

Until next time, be well and God bless.

People on this episode

Barbara Nicolosi Harrington

Host