The Methodology of the Cursillo Movement

THE CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DAVAO 1964 – 2014
(compiled, researched and written by Bong Baldoza MC #188)
17th of a series
Methodology Defined

In the previous article, we established that the Cursillo being a movement of the Church has its own methodology. Hence, it is very important that we take a look at this methodology based on Articles 154 to 174 of so-called red book, “The Fundamental Ideas of the Cursillo Movement”.
To get a glimpse of its methodology, the Fundamental defined method as “the appropriate arrangement and use of certain clearly understood means, in such a way as to achieve a proposed goal with the greatest likelihood of success, the greatest sped, and the greatest degree of perfection”. Thus, the method of the Cursillo Movement was designed so that its mentality and essence is applied in order to achieve its goals mandated by such essence and mentality.

Therefore, the Cursillo Movement’s methodology arranged in phases consists of – (a) an organized way of discerning environments in need of evangelization, known as the “Pre-Cursillo”, (b) an effective way of motivating people to decide to live what is fundamental for being a Christian, called the “Cursillo Proper” or better still the “Three-Day Weekend”, and (c) a natural way of facing courageously the realities of life today and of leavening environments with the Gospel, which is the “Post Cursillo”.

This is how the Cursillos does its proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From determining the environment in need of such proclamation and identifying key leaders of such environment, gathering said leaders into a community for three days and by the witnessing of the life of individuals are taught how to live their life in Christ, and after such joyful experience are now brought back to their respective environments to enliven it with the life of Christ they have experienced with a support mechanism such as the team reunions and ultreyas and constant spiritual direction, including their written reminder, the carnet.

Characterestics

This methodology arranged in phases are employed to be an occasion for Evangelization with the these characterestics, as follows:

1. It is kerygmatic. This is the option taken by the Movement where people are gathered together to proclaim Christ as witnesses, not as teachers.
2. It is Christ-centered. Meaning that Christ is the message to be proclaimed by people who have lived the joy of the experience of faith.
3. It is testimonial. Such joy of faith-life is proclaimed by Christians who radiate simply and spontaneously their faith in values which transcend common values by their presence alone.
4. It is personal. The message which is Christ and His words is to be perceived by each individual being addressed to him/her in particular as it is received by way of personal contact and personal witness.
5. It is a road to conversion. Through a personal encounter with the person of Christ proclaimed in the lives of Christian witnesses, the individual, by grace, receives and accepts Christ and is led to conversion by his/her own decision.
6. It is communal. Such conversion into Christ brings the individual to friendship with one’s brothers and sisters in communion.
7. It is inductive. The Cursillo Movement has its source it life, and is constantly learning from life. Hence, the best way to proceed is to draw a message to be proclaimed from one’s own life illuminated by the Gospel of Jesus.