Cursillos in Christianity
In today’s world, can Christianity penetrate the many areas of secular life? Can it live there? Can it grow there? Can it transform the world in a way that is more fruitful than the past and in keeping with the times? The Cursillo Movement thinks so. It proposes no new type of spirituality, but simply a method through which a person’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.
Cursillo teaches that the Gospel should be proclaimed in very natural ways; i.e., we should be Christ-like as we go about our daily activities, right where God put us. Unfortunately, while most people would like to live their lives in a Christ-like manner, the pressures of the world often make this difficult. Cursillo provides a method (with tools) to meet the challenges and respond to the opportunities presented each day. The method is introduced by a little course.
The Cursillo Movement can have very positive results in the spiritual revitalization of the world … the “New Evangelization.” The Christ-likeness in a few good people is contagious. The transference of Christ’s values to others in one’s family, school, place of business, etc., is the Christianizing of environments the Cursillo promotes.
Format of the Exercises
Cursillo (pronounced kur-see-yo) is a Spanish word meaning “little, or short, course.” It begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday evening. During the three days, those attending live and work together listening to talks given by priests and laypersons. They also share the Eucharist and pray together.
Titles of the talks indicate their content: Ideal, Habitual Grace, The Layperson: A Christian in the World, Actual Grace, Piety, Study, Sacraments, Action, Obstacles to a Life of Grace, Leaders, Study of the Environment, Life in Grace, Christianity in Action, the Cursillista Beyond the Cursillo, and Total Security. Each talk is followed by a discussion period.
Cursillo
Cursillo believes that Christianity CAN penetrate the many areas of secular life. Cursillo is not a new type of spirituality, but simply a method through which our spirituality is developed and lived – right where we are!!
A Cursillo Weekend’s aim is to concentrate closely on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ. Truly, a Cursillo is an encounter with Christ … a real meeting with Christ. Cursillo gives those who participate a living understanding of basic Catholic truths and the desire to serve the Church. What’s more, it provides a means to continue the Christian formation that begins on the Weekend.
Interested? You are invited … Come and see!!
For more information: Cursillo Movement in the Diocese of Lincoln, Webpage
