The Mentality of the Cursillo Movement

THE CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO 1964 – 2014

(compiled, researched and written by Bong Baldoza MC #188)

10th of a series

The Cursillo mentality is the key to the whole Cursillo Movement.  It explains why we are and what we are; it explains why we do what we do, and how we do it.

Everything essential to the Movement is dependent on the Cursillo mentality. This mentality forms the basis by which we judge reality, determine outcomes and goals, and then shape those goals into specific methods and strategies. It is precisely for this reason that we the Leaders need to be closely united in this mentality.

The definition of Mentality is – one’s state of mind, attitude, approach, way of thinking, outlook, and mindset.   Hence, the Mentality of the Cursillo Movement can best be described as – a set of criteria, convictions, basic attitudes, and pastoral options.   And the criterion involves the proclamation of truths about Christ, about the Church, about the human race, and about the world. These same criteria, convictions, attitudes and options all came together at a certain time and place, within a certain group of persons, and thus gave birth to the Cursillo Movement.

 The Genesis

Looking back at the beginnings of the Movement we must first take special note of the original group of people who developed it.  In the development, first came the living and then came the theorizing on what was being lived.  The Cursillo Movement operates by way of the inductive method.   Theory is born of lived reality; theory is a formulation of life.

The Reality as the founders saw it at that point in time, was a world with its back turned on God, Christ, and on the Church.  They had a deep-seated conviction that life had ceased to be Christian, and that this was because the influence Christianity had on real life was just about nonexistent, even in so-called Catholic circles.

The goal then, was clear: to re-Christianize a society which had ceased to be Christian.  Faced with the reality of this de-Christianized world, the founders of the Movement thought that some basic lines of action needed to be put in place summarized as (a) evangelization as a mission, (b) an awakening of hunger for God, (c) a preaching aimed at conversion, (d) a vision of the Church as universal sacrament of salvation, (e) a vision of the Christian as an apostle, and (f) a vision of the world as a community of persons God wants to redeem.

And with a Christianity which no longer exerted any real influence on life, the founders of the Movement came to an understanding of what and how Christianity should be.   It needed to be:

1.   Christianity understood as life itself, as a key that unlocks life and gives meaning to it- Christianity being not merely a set of truths that must be learned and accepted, but something alive that has to be lived.

2.   The actual living out of what is fundamental for being a Christian. Not just the knowledge and awareness of it.

3.   A real impact on society, which would be effected by this living out of what is fundamental for being a Christian.

4.   An action taking place within the world, not purely and simply within the Church.

5.   Not some new commitments, but a new Christian attitude in carrying out the secular commitments one already has.

Thus, from the very beginning of its conception, Evangelization has been the mentality of the Cursillos being absolutely the vital option at that time, and perhaps until today.   Such Evangelization is a lived-out, kerygmatic, pastoral thrust aimed at conversion, the changing of people’s mind and the reform of their lives.   This is so because it is the very mission and vocation of the Church dating back from the time of Christ.   And this is the very way man can be helped on his/her pilgrimage towards the heavenly Father, eternal his/her destiny.

So that when one is Christian, one can do so much better in whatever it is that has to be done.   Any Apostolic action done is of value only if it is the outcome of being Christian.