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What
is Cursillo? A cursillo is three days long but
it lasts a lifetime. In today's world, can
Christianity penetrate the many areas of
secular life? Can it grow there? Can it
transform the world in a way that is more
fruitful than the past, keeping with the
times? The Cursillo Movement thinks so. It
proposes no new type of spirituality, but
simply a method through which one's
spirituality may be developed, lived and
shared in any area of human life where there
are Christians willing to dedicate their lives
to God in an ongoing manner.
The movement of Cursillo is a powerful instrument of renewal in the Church. Its aim is to concentrate closely on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Cursillo gives those who attend it a living understanding of basic Christian truths and the desire to serve the Church. What's more, it provides a means to continue the Christian formation which is begun in the three day exercises.
Cursillo (pronounced KUR-SEE-YO) is a Spanish word meaning "short course". It begins on a Thursday evening and ends on Sunday evening. During the three days, those attending live and work together, listening to talks given by priests, religious and lay people. They also attend Mass, receive Communion, and visit the Blessed Sacrament daily. The titles of just a few of the many talks are: Ideals, Grace, Study, Action, Christian Community. Each talk is followed by a discussion period. A priest, the Spiritual Director of the Weekend and a Cursillo team of lay people spend weeks working and praying together in preparation. The Cursillo takes careful planning because the time is short and the subject extensive.
The "after" activity of the Cursillo is known as the "Fourth Day" and represents the balance of one's life on earth. During this time perseverance is important as it is in any method of renewal. In the Cursillo movement, the community spirit is continued after the three days through the "Ultreyas" and Group Reunions". Ultreya (meaning "onward")are gatherings of the full community scheduled at regular intervals as a means of growth and encouragement. Group reunions are reunions of smaller groups of friends usually on a weekly basis aimed at spiritual growth and involvement in the Christian Apostolate.
