Cursillo a movement, an organization, or a cult?

[AnnieD]

I would really like to go on a Cursillo weekend, but in my city, you are not allowed to make a Cursillo weekend until after your husband does, and my husband doesn’t want to do it, so that lets me out.


Annie

 

[RobedWithLight]

AnnieD:

I would really like to go on a Cursillo weekend, but in my city, you are not allowed to make a Cursillo weekend until after your husband does, and my husband doesn’t want to do it, so that lets me out.


Annie

Hi Annie

Yes, I suggest you go see and try it for yourself. It could make a difference. God bless and keep you.

Gerry

 

[JimG]

AnnieD:

I would really like to go on a Cursillo weekend, but in my city, you are not allowed to make a Cursillo weekend until after your husband does. . .

Now, that’s a strange rule! What if you’re single? Or married to a non-Catholic?

 

[RobedWithLight]

JimG:

Now, that’s a strange rule! What if you’re single? Or married to a non-Catholic?

I was 21 and single when I entered it.

Gerry

 

[Catholic29]

I bet you were all so lucky to have private rooms to sleep in at the weekend. I have done some research on the movement, and it does seem legit. I might try the weekend again if I can get a room of my own or at least they would allow me to use a tent. Too bad God didn’t warn me I couldn’t sleep through that incessant SNORING , ore else I could of known Christ better by now.

 

[drforjc]

Sainthood is not restricted to monasticism but contemplative sainthood is.

Have you read “Fire Within” by Fr. Thomas Dubay? He makes the case that all are called to union, but that in fact few achieve it.

 

[AnnieD]

JimG:

Now, that’s a strange rule! What if you’re single? Or married to a non-Catholic?

Where I live Jim, If you are single and female, you are allowed to make Cursillo and I would assume you are allowed to also, if you are married to a non-catholic. Many other cities don’t have that rule that your husband must make Cursillo first if you are both Catholic, and I don’t really understand why our city goes by that rule.


Annie

 

[juanh]

Hello everyone I apologize for the length of this post, but the Cursillo needs to be explained and possibly defended.

    I am very involved in the Cursillo movement in our diocese, as is my wife...we both lived our Cursillo's about a year and half ago and it was one of the greatest things that has happened both spiritually and personally for each of us...we are now both members of the School of Leaders, a team that organizes upcoming Cursillo's and I'd like to say a few things on the Cursillo. 

    The Cursillo is a CATHOLIC movement, it is not "inter-denominational". The Cursillo which translates into "short course", is just that...a short course on Christianity. The movement started in Spain around 1950 as a means to build stronger leaders in the Catholic community. It originally was in Spanish only but has now evolved into numerous languages around the world. From the leaders manual..."The purpose of the Cursillo is to make Christian community possible in families, neighborhoods, work, and other places...The immediate purpose is to provide an understanding and conviction concerning what is fundamental for being a Christian...the movement strives to strengthen individuals so that they might live out that understanding and conviction supported by Christian community life.". 

       This being said it must be remembered that the Cursillo is set up by teams in each diocese and these teams may differ in the actions in presenting a Cursillo(which really shouldn't be)...some places may have fine facilities such as dorm rooms where others may be sleeping in a gym...the bottom line is you will get out of a Cursillo what you are willing to invest. I have personally seen many a changed men and women after living a Cursillo...young and old, single and married...I have seen people have a restored faith in Jesus, I have seen marriages saved by this movement...this is not a "cult" by any means and it is not something to casually blow off. The Cursillo is NOT for everyone, there is very specific interview process and a candidate needs to  be able to receive the Eucharist(some teams have not stuck with the interview process). Someone needs to attend the entire weekend(Thurs night thru Sunday)to fully appreciate and understand the purpose of the Cursillo.  Also the Cursillo should be available to all that are eligible and would like to attend.

      The popular "Walk to Emmaus" Protestant movement is based upon the Catholic Cursillo...they saw what the Cursillo was doing and adapted it to become the "Walk" in the mid 1960's.

       In closing I will leave you with a qoute from Pope John Paul II adddresing Cursillistas attending the first National Italian Ultreya(group meeting of Cursillistas)in Rome...
       "Your movement, which recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary, devotes itself to drawing forth from Christians a commitment to live lives consistent with thier faith whether individually or as a community, and to bring this ferment to the environments where you live.....My apostolic blessing goes with you as a pledge of this divine grace which enables you to live forever".

I’d be happy to answer any questions on the Cursillo that anyone may have…thank you.

 

[tru_dvotion]

Dear juanh,

Written by a true convert and supported by almost every subjective item one could possibly come up with. The only thing missing is that it saved your life.

You are one of many who have been seduced by a cultish lay movement. As for the Pope’s address, depending on when it was delivered, it may have been written by the leaders of very group the Pope was welcoming. Because of tremendously blatant abuses by various movements and interest groups in the near past, the Vatican now prefers to have an “(name removed by moderator)ut” to these welcoming speeches. Good thing.

 

[juanh]

Tru…I’m not here to debate the Cursillo movement with you, as you are very obviously a skeptic…the Popes statement came in 1980 in case you’re wondering…and I’m not a convert, I’m a lifelong Catholic active in my parish as a lector, president of the parish council, and a proud Cursillista…and I haven’t been seduced, the Cursillo movement only made stronger what I already knew and felt…dismiss if it you will, as that is your right but unless you’ve been to one or TRULY understand the movement I don’t see why you would say that it’s not “valid” or what people experience there is false…how can you speak for someone else’s experience???..the movement brings people closer to Jesus and their faith and no matter what you’ll say against it, those are good things in this time…again, I will be happy to answer any questions on the Cursillo and will remind everyone that there is NO secrecy in the movement…anyone is free to discuss the entire weekend…what happens, the nature/subject of the talks, the fellowship, the entire movement…the Walk to Emmaus has a kind of secrecy to it, but not the Cursillo…as a matter of fact anyone is allowed to attend one of the monthly Ultreya’s held by Cursillistas in your diocese, whether you attended a Cursillo or not.

God Bless and De Colores!!!

 

[tru_dvotion]

Dear Juanh,

You do not have to respond, so if you do not want to debate that is quite all right. But this is a public forum and I will respond anyway.

You are very correct in your assessment, that people who belong to these lay movements are very active in Church and they do a lot of good things for the Church and for their fellow man. But there is a downside to all this activity; and that is they fail to nurture their own souls with prayer and good spiritual food. They have been lulled into a false sense of holiness and a false impression about their relationship with God.

I never forget the last Life in the Spirit Seminar I ever participated in, when before confession, one young woman was complaining that she never has any sins to confess, what a waste of time this is, we are all so holy anyway.

The same feeling of instant holiness and instant relationship goes along with the Cursillo Movement. In fact you will find generally the same people in Cursillo, the Charismatic Movement, in ALPHA and the list goes on. A kind of musical chairs is going on… meanwhile the purpose that would make ANY lay movement worthwile; the struggle for holiness the slow and sure way is forgotten. We are all in love with God, and he is with us and all we have to do is to go to these meetings and weekends and we all will feel just so wonderful! Isn’t this great? No it isn’t and the rude awakening will come when a soul departs from this life and discovers all that activity and all the time he devoted to these movements was a total waste of time, and instead of having grown in holiness, he was one of those foolish people who buried their treasure (grace) and they let it lay in the ground without working toward any sort of dividend when the time was up. All current lay movements are like this Juanh, Cursillo included.

 

[juanh]

it’s funny Tru…my experience has been quite the opposite…after living my Cursillo I felt more aware of my sins…I look forward to confession…read more scripture…check out tapes on the saints…read more books…subscribed to apologetic magazines to better understand my religion…before attending I felt I was pretty complete as a Catholic, afterwards I realized how much I really lacked…and I know alot of others feel the same way…I certainly grew in holiness, but I have a long way to go…the thing is, now I’m aware of the journey and enjoying every step…I’m sorry it wasn’t the same for you…but for me there was nothing instant about it…again, quite the opposite.

God Bless

 

[tru_dvotion]

it’s funny Tru…my experience has been quite the opposite…after living my Cursillo I felt more aware of my sins…I look forward to confession…read more scripture…check out tapes on the saints…read more books…subscribed to apologetic magazines to better understand my religion…before attending I felt I was pretty complete as a Catholic, afterwards I realized how much I really lacked…and I know alot of others feel the same way…I certainly grew in holiness, but I have a long way to go…the thing is, now I’m aware of the journey and enjoying every step…I’m sorry it wasn’t the same for you…but for me there was nothing instant about it…again, quite the opposite.

Everybody experiences that at the beginning. But that may be a testament to where you were originally and not where you are now. Perhaps anything appears as an improvement if you were stagnant in your faith. But this is not real either. And just wait a few years, and if you are still in it 15 years from now and you remember what I warned you about, you will admit all I told you was true.

 

[juanh]

so are you implying that my growth in spirituality, being a better father, husband, freind…all this after the Cursillo is false, and somehow a bad thing??

 

[RobedWithLight]

Any tree that produces good fruit cannot be a bad thing. Becoming a better husband, wife, father, mother, son, brother or sister, becoming a more intense and devout Catholic Christian, is certainly far better and more pleasing to God. If the Cursillo can help you to become a better Christian, how can the Cursillo be that bad?

Gerry

 

[snuffy]

Trudevotion:
Who made you judge and jury?
You have basically called ALL these good people liars!!!
And I’m sorry but you make me angry…
We all have a loooong way to go to be Holy…Take the plank out of your own eye.

I’m sorry but…Any movement that brings us closer to God, and His Church…and the TRUTH of the Church is good.
How Dare you!!!
I’ve been a Charismatic Catholic for 10 yrs…and NEVER regretted it.
I thank God always for everything in my life…I praise Him and His Holy Name… And this is bad.
I’m so tired of hearing this…

You have condemned many a good people here…and I pray that you go to confession… As I will because of my anger towards what you are saying…
Sorry, but you are closed to all God wants to give you. However I’m open to the HOLY SPIRIT and all the gifts He wants to give me…I say Come Holy Spirit…bring it on!!!

Thank You Jesus, for giving us all these wonderful movements…to be able to guide us and bring us ever closer to you.
Jeanette

 

[MountainMan]

tru_dvotion:

Everybody experiences that at the beginning. But that may be a testament to where you were originally and not where you are now. Perhaps anything appears as an improvement if you were stagnant in your faith. But this is not real either. And just wait a few years, and if you are still in it 15 years from now and you remember what I warned you about, you will admit all I told you was true.

Tru -

I made a weekend in 1989, and found the experience to do nothing but continually draw me closer to Christ and His church. The beauty of the movement for me is that is did not end with the weekend, but provided continued support and encouragement in the faith through small and large group meetings. The fact is that I had a literal encounter with Christ during my weekend. I ‘heard’ His voice within me, challenging me to live my Christian walk more fully. I wish I could say I have responded as completely to that challenge as I would like, but I have yet a long way to go. The Cursillo experience, however, has done nothing but lead me in that direction.

You need not make a weekend to be good Catholic, but please stop condemning a Catholic movement (that is to say, one begun by a Catholic) that has done so much for so many Catholics. I will keep you in my prayers.

P.S. You have written several times words to the effect of “that may reflect where you were prior to your weekend.” In my case, I was already growing closer to the Lord, and in fact believed I had wonderful walk with Him. What He told me, however, was that my walk was lacking the support of a Christian community. That community is exactly what the weekend provided.

 

[juanh]

tru_dvotion:

And just wait a few years, and if you are still in it 15 years from now and you remember what I warned you about, you will admit all I told you was true.

and when that time comes and I still feel the same way…You will admit you were wrong, and all you told me was NOT true?

God Bless and De Colores!

 

[Kolbelover]

hello, All…

I think it is difficult and even dangerous to try to paint a picture of any movement with broad brushstrokes…While the model of the Cursillo weekend is a known quantity, there are too many vagaries from diocese to diocese…or, even with the many personalities it takes to put on a weekend to quantify definitively what Cursillo is or is not…

As to the content of what I experienced: I thought it was fine… a little “light” actually, for my sensibilites, but I have been on dozens of retreats over the years (many which OBVIOUSLY borrow heavily from Cursillo!!). The PEOPLE I have met who are involved in the movement are terrific…and earnestly seem to desire to serve God and His Church more perfectly. The fellowship after the weekend, is in fact (my experience) it’s greatest asset…here, I have found gentle souls who without exception, are willing to share ideas in the spirit of love and true communion…

on the other hand… I had concerns about several liturgical abuses on my weekend. BUT, I think it is important to consider that I had experience with a PARTICULAR priest…who may or may not be representative of the movement in his seeming disobedience to the Magisterium… It was uncomfortable for me at times, but I think Communion is the greater virtue than Righteousness, and so, I endured quietly.

was my experience typical? Well, I will have to continue polling people who have been on a cursillo weekend…so far, it appears that many of the Liturgies in our area are not very orthodox, and that Liturgical Abuses (minor and/or otherwise) are fairly common…so here’s the thing from my vantage point: One of the stated objectives of Cursillo is to develop “Christian leaders”… How then, may leadership be fostered if there is not emphasis on being “Christian followers” first?

 

[Loboto-Me]

I became interested in God and His Church because of these movements! As a wayward teenager who became pregnant out of wedlock, I was taken in under a wonderful woman’s wing who belonged to a french “cursillo” type charismatic movement called “La Rencontre”. The whole congregation that I belonged to was charismatic in nature (late 70’s) and you know what? they were the warmest most non-judgemental and holy people that I’ve ever been in contact with to THIS day.

Colette taught me how to be a good mother after my son was born. She didn’t need to have a teenager around. She was a married woman with a young son of her own only 4 months older than mine. She would come and pick me up a couple times a week, and my son and I would spend the day at her home. She taught me how to wash diapers, how to cook, how to be a mom. That’s a holy thing to do! I barely knew this woman before I became pregnant.

I went on charismatic retreats where I learned to love Jesus because of His love for us. I was first drawn by the warmth and godliness of these people, they taught me that Jesus can love through other people and that life isn’t just about yourself but also about those around you.

Now, in my 40’s I prefer the reverence of a super traditional Mass with bells and smells that God deserves, but the Charismatic Movement will always hold a soft spot in my heart. I feel that charismatic/cursillo/rencontre weekends are great for a shot of “Jesus Love” on retreats.