Because of its Spanish heritage, Cursillo uses some terms that may not be familiar to American English speakers. Other terms come from the Greek and Latin heritage of the Church.

Apostolic Action

"Apostle" is a Greek word for messenger.  As Christians, we are called to spread the Good News.  So an apostolic action is our prayerful activity to bring someone or some situation closer to Christ "by word and example".

 

Clausura

Closing ceremony.  This is the last service of the weekend where we reaffirm our baptismal promises and commit ourselves once again to the Christian life.

 

Cursillo de Christiandad

"A short course in Christianity".

 

Cursillo Movement

A movement of the Church that has as its purpose the Christianization of the world through the apostolic action of Christian leaders in all the areas of human activity. 

 

De Colores

"The Colors" -- a Spanish song used in Cursillo.

 

Environment

The sum of the ideas and circumstances brought about by the people around us: people and situations with which we are in contact.  Refers to groups of people rather than physical setting.

 

Floating Group Reunion

The groups reunions that meet during an ultreya, usually made up of different people each time.

 

The Fourth Day

The rest of your life.  The term comes from the fact that it comes after the three day weekend.  It includes:

Rule of Life

Group Reunion

Ultreya

Spiritual Direction

 

Group Reunion

"Reunion" in Spanish means "meeting," so group reunion is simply a meeting of a group, to share the last week's experience of piety, study, and action, to pray together, and to be mutually accountable to one another.  See our Group Reunions page.

 

Palanca

Literally means a "lever."  It is used in Cursillo to mean an outward expression, through prayer or sacrifice, of our Christian love.  Look for Palanca on our Weekend page.

 

Piety

Living in union with Christ.  Involves a life of prayer, a personal relationship with Christ, and a desire to bring Christ to others.

 

Rollo

A talk given by either clergy or laity.  Look for the talks being given by the Team on our Weekend page.

 

Rule of Life

"Walking the walk," a personal spiritual journey including piety, study, and apostolic action.

 

Spiritual Direction

Seeking out skilled lay persons or clergy for spiritual direction to provide help in deepening our union with Christ.  See our Spiritual Direction page.

 

Ultreya

"Onward!"  A medieval Spanish word which is associated with pilgrimages made on foot to the Shrine of St. James at Campostella in Spain.  It was a word of encouragement which one group or pilgrim would call out to another.  It conveys the meaning of  "press on to the end" or "persevere."   In Cursillo we use it as the name of the regular meeting of Cursillistas, where the several permanent group reunions come together, as well as those who have not yet found a permanent group.  See our Ultreyas page.

 

The Weekend

An intensive three day "short course in Christianity" (hence the name Cursillo).   It is a "retreat" only in the sense that we attempt to limit the influence of the outside world.  The word "advance" would probably be more descriptive.  See our Weekend page.

Make a friend, be a friend, bring a friend to Christ.

Last updated July 28, 2001   
Send questions and comments to Jim Pickands