From St. John Paul II
…the Cursillo method aims at helping to transform, in a Christian way, the milieus where people live and work through the involvement involvement of “new men and women” who have become such from their encounter with Christ. This is the goal of the three-day “little course” on Christianity, in which a team of priests and lay people, supported by the prayer and sacrifices of the movement’s other members, communicate the fundamental truths of the Christian faith in an especially “living” way. When presented in this way, the message of Christ almost always opens participants in Cursillo to the gift of conversion and to a the Church. They feel called to be the prophetic ‘leaven’ which is kneaded into the dough so that the whole mass will rise (Mt 13:33), to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’ (Mt 5:13-14), to proclaim to everyone they meet that only in Jesus Christ is there salvation (Acts 4:12), and that it is ‘only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of man truly becomes clear’.
(Gaudium et spes, n. 22).– Excerpted from Pope John Paul II’s Address to the Cursillos de Christiandad Movement, Saturday, July 29, 2000
The little seed sown in Spain more than 50 years ago has become a great tree rich in fruits of the Spirit. Be courageous witnesses of the ´deaconry of truth´ and act with the ´force of communion.’ Fix one´s gaze on the face of Christ, trust in the primacy of grace to undertake a journey of catechesis and prayer, of conversion and holiness of life, [whose fruits will be] a solid sense of belonging to the Church and a renewed impetus for evangelization in the realms of daily life and activity.
“Dear Cursillistas! Follow confidently the way of formation and Christian life that you have undertaken with so much generosity. ‘Duc in Altum! [Go into the deep!]'”
– Pope John Paul II, Vatican City, May 6, 2002
From Pope Francis (when Cardinal Bergoglio)
Being pilgrims in our City means not to be sedentary, but open to life and to pay attention to what is happening in our heart like a Good Samaritan seeing the harshness of life for so many of our brethren. It is necessary that the Cursillo Movement, through the participation of all, continue its path of pastoral conversion…”
Excerpted from the letter of June 13, 2011 to the Cursillistas of Buenos Aires from then Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio SJ, Archbishop of Buenos Aires (Pope Francis)
Full text of letter in English
Carta del Cardenal Jorge Mario Bergoglio a los cursillistas de Buenos Aires
From Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI recognized the value of the Cursillo Movement when he gave his blessing to its work in 1966. Among his words of encouragement addressing the Cursillo Movement were the following:
Cursillo’s de Cristiandad, that is the word, purified through experience, affirmed by its fruits, that today travels with citizenship papers throughout the world…
Christ, the Church, the Pope, are counting on you!”
“Whether some methods become obsolete, whether new manifestations of the Spirit arise, the permanent task of the layman will continue to be the infusion of Christianity into life through the encounter and personal friendship with God and in communion with his brothers. The layman, upon forming himself in Christianity, reforms his mentality and conforms his life to Christ’s image by means of faith, hope and charity; acting with complete responsibility he transforms the temporal structures in which he is immersed, guided in his action by the glance of Christ he continually tries to remake the world according to God’s plan design…
“We know that in your plan of spirituality and apostolate in the Cursillo Movement the ‘Sensus Ecclesiae’ (mind of the Church) is the guiding light that orients you…
“Beloved sons and daughters: Our soul is so oppressed by the vision of the evils which afflict the Church and mankind. But permit us to express our overwhelming joy that, at this moment, floods our soul before the immense chorus of your manly faith in Christ, your fidelity to the Church, your fervent loyalty to this Chair of Peter and to the ministry of the episcopal hierarchy. “Cursillo’s de Cristiandad! Christ, the Church, the Pope, are counting on you!”
Pope Paul VI at the first World Ultreya in Rome:
“I am therefore delighted to join in your thanksgiving to the Lord for all He has done and never ceases to do in the Church through the Cursillo de Cristiandad.
“This method of Christian teaching, commonly called Cursillos in Christianity, extends already over a great number of the faithful and has produced abundant fruit: Christian renewal of the family life; vitalization of parishes; faithful observance of duties in private as well as public life. All this has filled with the greatest satisfaction the Bishops and the other shepherds of souls.”
From Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle
When I first came to the Diocese of Joliet in 2006, I was pleased to learn that there is an active Cursillo Movement here. I personally have been involved with Cursillo for almost thirty years. I was encouraged to participate by many parishioners, and after I made the three-day weekend, I eventually became Spiritual Director of the Cursillo evangelization within the Church, as it renews and strengthens Catholics in their faith and links them even more closely to the Church and to Christ. God’s grace is very evident in the Cursillo Movement, which is nothing more than a Catholic life fully lived, with additional supports to strengthen and encourage Cursillistas. I am pleased to continue my involvement with Cursillo now as the Bishop of Joliet!”
A Message from Bishop Ronald Hicks, Diocese of Joliet:
I am delighted that Cursillo is available to the people of the Diocese of Joliet! This movement provides Catholic men and women in our parishes an extraordinary opportunity to grow in their relationship with our Lord, while at the same time being accompanied by others sharing this path towards a stronger faith.
From Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago
“The Cursillo was born of a desire to help those already baptized experience anew the living Christ. They have incorporated their members into the Church’s mission to tell the whole world who Jesus is: a savior and friend to whom we introduce our friends who do not yet know Him. The Cursillo movement is a great blessing for the Church and keeps all Catholics aware of the reason that Christ founded the Church.” October 2008
Bishop James Conley (Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska)
February 8, 2014
“The Cursillo Movement in the Diocese of Lincoln has my blessing and full support. For many, making a Cursillo retreat can be a trigger moment for a deeper conversion of life and a greater commitment to discipleship in the Lord. The Church is gifted with disciples from the Cursillo Movement who are true evangelists. As Pope Francis stated in Evangelii Gaudium, “Jesus wants evangelizers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God’s presence” (EG 259).
Cursillo retreats provide the opportunity for a heart to heart encounter with Christ, whose abundant love and mercy is transformative. Once transformed by a deep encounter with Christ, those involved in the Cursillo movement persevere in this grace through a life of prayer, regular participation in the Sacraments, and fidelity to the “fourth day.” The ready support of fellow Cursillo members and attendance at community reunions are a tremendous help as well. May God grant the Diocese of Lincoln many fruitful Cursillos and a great harvest of souls who have their hearts set on our Lord Jesus!”