The definition of the Cursillos in Christianity Movement flows from life and those things which men and women value and seek today. Yet, the [official] definition has an imperial echo of an outdated Christianity that in this day and age can be accepted only by submissive and timid, so called, “Men of the Church”. That understanding of the Cursillo Movement is useless to those who – convinced and energized by a Cursillo weekend – wish to give witness to a Church that is alive and that dwells among men. A Church that will help develop people’s qualities so they can live their lives more fully, exhibiting a lifestyle that is natural and human, and, therefore, attractive and contagious; and in this way, leaven with the Gospel those environments where Christ is not known or is not known well.
Today’s reality requires a different course from the one marked out by the [official] definition:
One must have as a starting point the real world, not some lofty theological abstractions which, though very true, are within reach of ordinary persons only when they are truly alive in the lives of those who live them.
The preferred, though not exclusive, objective must be those who are away from the Church.
One must make sure that the message reaches every one; but no one may, in any way, meddle with the individual response that the message generates in each person.
We cannot overwhelm the Cursillista with apostolic “proposals” that seek to unilaterally and clerically mortgage their generosity. It is never good for “good people” to try to steer the Cursillista’s generosity toward the cultivation of a preferred intra-ecclesial garden. This will only inhibit their choices and spontaneity as they seek to discover their place in the world.
We must take care that the “heroic” Christ does not displace the “domestic” Christ: the ordinary Christ; the everyday Christ; the Christ that enters and gets involved in people’s lives, giving meaning to all our actions and a new radiance to the marvelous reality of our conscious and grateful existence.
Everything during the Cursillo weekend and after it must have as its source a personal encounter with oneself, which makes it possible for each one to grow in knowledge of one’s qualities and one’s limitations. This in itself also favors the nurturing of that inner space where each person’s intentions reside and take shape, which is what gives a dimension of value to one’s actions.
These are some of the most important principles of the Cursillos in Christianity Movement, which continue to be observed and promoted by those who seek to understand them and make them a reality in their daily lives, in keeping with the respect and fidelity that is due to the foundational charism.
Wherever this has not been observed, Secretariats have lost focus of the purpose of the Cursillo Movement. They have done so perhaps believing in good faith – since it has been done repeatedly – that their mission was to devote themselves to manipulating, deactivating, or distorting the coherent and interconnected principles that make up the structure of Cursillos. As a result, the unity of the message has been lost and with it many other things that have made the message difficult to understand or have outright hindered it; so that, many people still do not even know that God loves them in Christ.
DEFINITION CONTAINED IN FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS: Describing the essential elements of the Cursillos in Christianity Movement:
"A movement of the Church which, with its own method, makes it possible to live what is fundamental for being a Christian, in order to create nuclei of Christians who engage in leavening their environments with the Gospel, helping them to discover and achieve their personal vocations, with respect to structuring Christianity."
EDUARDO BONNIN'S DEFINITION OF THE ESSENCE OF CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY:
"We know that the Cursillos in Christianity Movement is the best news - that God loves us in Christ. This great news is communicated by the best means possible - friendship. It is directed to the best in each man or woman, that is, to his or her very being as a person - with a capacity to be convinced, to make decisions and to persevere. This is so that the great news of God's love might be communicated to as many persons as possible; so genuine friendship might be truer in each one; so that each day there are more persons who are convinced, committed and steadfast in the Way of Christ."
EDUARDO BONNÍN – SOME OTHER QUOTATIONS:
“The spirit of Cursillo consists in bringing the essence of the Gospel to the daily lives of many.” Eduardo Bonnín, in “Eduardo Bonnín: A Christian Apprentice”
“I believe that the Lord has to be discovered in every day life and in the ordinary.” Ibid
“My contact with people has allowed me to directly verify that whenever the message of the Gospel is welcomed with personal faith and comes into contact with the uniqueness, originality and creativity of the person, it strengthens his or her human qualities.” Ibid
“What we wanted at the beginning and what we want still is for human freedom to encounter God’s Spirit.” Ibid
1. Reading the brief article by Eduardo Bonnín, what do you think it is that he objects to in the definition contained in “Fundamental Ideas”?
2. What is it that he feels is violated when specific apostolates are proposed to the Cursillista?
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