Mystagogy: to lead through the mystries
Mystagogy: to lead through the mystries
Inspired by the mission of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association (CPA), Deacon Ray Biersbach, Ph.D.—a Catholic deacon and retired psychologist—integrates psychological wisdom with spiritual depth. Through Catholic Mystagogy, his work presents a holistic understanding of the human person, family, and society, rooted in fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. This integrated approach demonstrates how authentic spiritual formation can develop in harmony with emotional and psychological well-being
Biersbach has been inspired by the Catholic Psychotherapy Association (CPA) whose mission is to support mental health practitioners by promoting the development of psychological theory and mental health practice which encompasses a full understanding of the human person, family, and society in fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
The tasks of Catholic Mystagogy (Catechism #1025) are to lead through proclaiming (Catechesis) 1) from the visible to the invisible, 2) from the symbols of faith to the realities, 3) from sacraments to the mysteries of faith, 4) as a “public work” of the Church to develop, learn from, and share local “catechisms”, i.e., program manuals, and 5) to lead Catholics into the Sacramental culture of the Church. This structured Catholic Mystagogy Guide invites believers to live in a world marked with God’s presence, power, and healing even in the midst of secular culture.
The tasks of Mystagogy (Catechism #1025) are to lead through proclaiming (Catechesis) 1) from the visible to the invisible, 2) from the symbols of faith to the realities, 3) from sacraments to the mysteries of faith, 4) as a “public work” of the Church to develop, learn from, and share local “catechisms”, i.e., program manuals, and 5) to lead Catholics into the Sacramental culture of the Church, i.e., a world that is pregnant with meaning in a secular world and marked with signs of God’s presence, power, and healing for all. Deacon Ray.
I am a Catholic deacon and a retired psychologist with over 40 years of experience in psychotherapy, academic research, and university teaching. During my career, I also served as the director of a large psychology department for the State of New Jersey. After closing my clinical practice, I turned my full attention to writing and research focused on the intersection of Christian anthropology, empirically validated psychotherapy, and Catholic Mystagogy.
Today, my work is dedicated to helping individuals, families, and faith communities grow in both spiritual formation and human wholeness. By integrating Catholic Mystagogy with psychological insight, I seek to show how authentic faith development can unfold alongside emotional and psychological well-being.
I am a Catholic deacon and a retired psychologist. After 40 years of practicing psychotherapy, researching, teaching at university, and running a large psychology department for the State of New Jersey, I closed my practice to write about the intersection between Christian anthropology and empirically validated psychotherapy.
Whether you’re a reader, a fellow writer, or part of the publishing industry, Deacon Ray Biersbach would love to hear from you!
