The Cursillo is A Movement It is A Movement of the Church

THE CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO 1964 – 2014
(compiled, researched and written by Bong Baldoza MC #188)
16th of a series

The Essence of the Cursillo Movement

With the challenge of making the Gospel be known to all, some Christians in the early 40’s – priests, religious and many of them lay people in communion with their bishop “came to share one same mentality and to experience one apostolic restlessness”.  And that is to make a more Christian world.   The initial group in 1944 grew, and today has been multiplied and continuing to multiply thus it not just something but someone.  And the Church hierarchy beginning with Bishop Juan Hervas, embraced, supported and promoted this growing organized reality which is alive and active.  From then on up to this point in time, this Movement is being recognized by the Church.

No less than Pope Paul VI defined the ecclesiality of the Cursillo Movement in these words: “We know that in your field of spirituality and apostolic activity in the Cursillo Movement the ‘sensus ecclesiae’ (sense of the Chuch) is the North Star that guides you, the lever that moves you, the light that inspires you, the wellspring that vitalizes you.   From this visit to Rome, the reigning Church which presides in charity, take with you a love for the Church that is even greater, if possible, than the love that already consumes you – take with you a definite intention to build the Church.” 

Besides, the Cursillo Movement has satisfied the five criteria of ecclesiality as layed down by Pope John Paul II in the Conciliar Decree Apostolicam Actuositatem, as follows:

1.The primacy given to the calling of every Christian to holiness. One of the Cursillo Movement’s fundamental goals is the proclamation and cultivation of the vocation of the laity, it call to holiness by living grace in a conscious, growing and shared way.

2.The responsibility of professing the Catholic faith where the Cursillo teaches not just mere human truth but a truth which comes from God, professed in faith and offers authentic freedom.

3.The witness of a solid and heartfelt communion in filial relationship with the Pope and the respective diocesan bishop recognizing that the Cursillo Movement is to exist within the ambit of the Local Bishop in communion with the Holy See.  Its programs and activities have and should be guided by the Bishop through a designated Spiritual Director/s.

4.Conformity to and participation in the apostolic purpose of the Church.   From the very beginning of its conception, the Cursillos is always related to the apostolic purpose of the Church, that is the spreading of God’s Kingdom by the proclamation of the Gospel to all thus calling for conversion and establishing a relationship with God through, with and in Jesus Christ.

5.The commitment of presence in a human society which places itself at the service of the dignity of the entire person which is incorporated in Rollos 3, 11, 12 and 13 proper and peculiar to the laity, that is their secular character defined in Lumen Gentium and Apostolicam Actuositatem.