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 Method

The how we do it is explained in the method.  The founders of the Cursillo Movement asked themselves one question: Why was it that people were not Christian anymore?  And they thought that among other things there were two reasons: First, because the law had become burdensome. Second, because people no longer had an understanding of authentic doctrine. Having realized this, they decided to aim for the re-Christianization of the human race by meeting the challenge of the second cause – that people no longer had an understanding of authentic doctrine.

The Movement discovered a new form of kerygmatic presentation of what is fundamental for being a Christian. The solution would be to give a synthesis of authentic Christianity – not by getting people to absorb more concepts, but by presenting to them the most basic truths about God, who alone can fulfill the deepest desires that people have.  And so a new vision was offered of a God who is alive and personal.   The Cursillo Movement affirms that every human being – by the fact of being human- is a person, is a somebody, is created as an individual of deep worth.  Thus they will live out one’s human vocation in a life that is free and responsible, with an awareness of one’s self, of one’s responsibility, of one’s mission, of one’s greatness, and of one’s faith.

The Strategy

Given the ultimate goal of the Cursillo Movement – which was to transform a society which had ceased to be Christian into a living Christianity – the founders considered four options as to what strategy they should follow in order to attain this goal.  These are (a) create more Christian Structures, (b) transform directly the already existing structures, (c) transform people individually, and (d) Christianize those people responsible for creating or influencing the structures already in existence.

As a matter of effective strategy, the founders chose the fourth option which was to Christianize those people responsible for creating or influencing the structures already in existence.   In other words to give a Christian backbone to the world – structured as it already is.   To do this would entail:

1.   A study of environments, defined as those persons and circumstances that come together at a given time and place;

2.   An evangelizing of those environments by the people having the most influence within them;

3.   The selection of candidates;

4.   A previous and in-depth knowledge of these candidates, inasmuch as it is only by taking people as they are and knowing that one can help them become all that God wants them to be.

Pope Francis asks for prayers for Benedict XVI

“Today I ask you to join me in prayer for His Holiness Benedict XVI, a man of great courage and humility.”

This is what Pope Francis tweeted on his Twitter account @Pontifex during the 1st year since his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI stepped down from the seat of Peter, February 11.

Pope Benedict XVI has served the Catholic Church as pope from April 19, 2005 to February 11, 2013. He cited ‘lack of strength of mind and body’ due advanced age as reason for his resignation, the first time in this generation since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do according to his own initiative since Pope Celestine V in 1294.

His resignation took effect last February 28, 2013 and since then he moved to the newly renovated Mater Ecclesiae monastery. He retains the title His Holiness and will still wear the papal colour of white.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has canonized 45 saints during his papacy including San Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint after San Lorenzo Ruiz.

The pope emeritus will spend his last days on Earth in a life dedicated to prayer.