Ideological Background

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

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

12th of a series

The Mentality of the Cursillo Movement

The original ideas, in the Fundamentals No. 34. which made up the beliefs of the Cursillo Movement could, then, be put together as:   (a) A concept of Christianity as victorious, Christianity being the primary solution to all human problems, (b) A dynamic vision of an active Catholicism, in which the apostolate is thought of not as something extra, but rather as a life-or-death necessity, (c) A starting point of honest and hope filled restlessness, which makes it possible for any effective action, and which is the infinite source of multiple and ever greater accomplishments, (d) A profound and precise knowledge of people as they are today, with all their problems and anxieties, (e) A profound conviction of the inefficiency or unadaptability of certain methods when achieving the basic goals of all apostolic action that gives one a greater interest in revitalizing whatever means that are already available in looking for new fruitful horizons, (f) The firm conviction that it is really possible for those who live on the edge of religion to feel the powerful shock of grace; that no matter how far away they may have been from Christ, they are still capable of surrendering themselves totally to Him, provided they are presented the truths of Christ and of His Church as they are in themselves, (g) The firm expectation that if this experience is brought about, the same thing will happen as happened in the time of Christ: the Samaritan woman and the Zacchaeus of our time will be converted into the Lord’s most dynamic apostles,  (h) A continual effort to find a technique for the specific realization of this goal; a technique which would take into account the personal problems and particular needs of each individual, and (i) The conviction that the solution is simple and universal.

And so what will have to be lived in the Cursillo is the catholicity affected by the Catholic faith- a gathering together in one same solution and in one same atmosphere of different classes and diverse cultures, launched as they may be toward different horizons.

Hence, the Cursillos as it is today is bound at making sure that this ideological backgound be placed in the forefront of its teachings and doings, and not just remain an idea but rather, a reality.