Difference between revisions of "Christian mysteries"
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Revision as of 08:59, October 25, 2018
The Christian Mysteries refers to the sacred teachings and sacramental rituals of Orthodox and Catholic Christianity. This terminology is heard today in the beginning of the Catholic Eucharist when the presiding celebrant of the liturgy says, "Brothers let us celebrate the Sacred Mysteries", followed by the opening prayer or invocation, after which comes the reading of the scriptures.
Originally, in the early centuries of the Faith, the most profound essential doctrines and initiations were revealed only after the catechumens—those who had been fully catechised (instructed and taught) about Jesus as Savior and Lord sent by the one true God, and their moral obligations as candidates and later as Christians—had been initiated by Baptism into Christ. Knowledge of the sacred doctrines was kept from outsiders to avoid any possibility of blasphemy and sacrilege. This policy of protecting and defending what is sacred and not to be defiled bears a superficial resemblance to the practice of secrecy of the ancient Mystery religions of the Greek Hellenistic and Roman worlds of the Mediterranean and Middle East. However, the Christian practice of compassion, forgiveness and generous giving to the poor and defenseless was public, together with preaching the name of Jesus as the Savior and Redeemer of all men everywhere (Acts 17:30).
The Divinum Arcanum
The "Discipline of the Secret" was the obligation of Christian believers to keep sacred their knowledge of the doctrines of God, what Paul called "meat" (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12–6:6; 1 Peter 2:2).