The Cursillo Movement is a Christian spiritual movement that originated in Spain in the 1940s. The word “Cursillo” means “short course” in Spanish, referring to the 3-day weekend retreats that are at the heart of the movement. The Cursillo Movement began within the Catholic Church but has since spread to other Christian denominations as well.
The first Cursillo retreat was organized in 1944 by a group of laymen and a priest named Eduardo Bonnín Aguiló in Mallorca, Spain. They wanted to revitalize the faith of lukewarm Catholics and equip lay people to become effective witnesses for Christ in their environments. The weekends were intended to serve as a “short course” in living what was termed the “fully Christian life.” The Cursillo retreats emphasize piety, study, and action – being close to Christ, learning about the faith, and living it out actively in the world.
The main component of the Cursillo Movement is the three-day Cursillo weekend retreat. Those who attend are called “candidates.” The weekends begin on Thursday evening and run until Sunday evening. During the three days, laypeople and clergy give a series of approximately fifteen short talks. The talks present the Catholic Christian faith as a whole, focusing on God’s love, grace, the person of Christ, the need for dedication to Christ, the call to holiness, and the Christian community. The weekend includes prayer services, Mass, opportunities for sacramental reconciliation, meals together, and time for reflection. The talks and activities are intended to deepen the candidates’ understanding of their faith and their relationship with Christ. There is also an emphasis on the need to extend God’s love to others after the weekend through living a Christian life in one’s home, workplace, parish and community.
After attending the Cursillo weekend, participants are encouraged to meet regularly in small friendship groups called “Group Reunions.” These groups provide support, study, and encouragement for members to persevere in their Christian life and apostolic action. At the local level, the movement is coordinated by an ultreya – a larger periodic gathering of the local Cursillo community. At the regional and national levels, there are workshops, conferences, and enrichment programs sponsored by Cursillo leaders. So while the 3-day weekend retreat is the core experience of the Cursillo Movement, the follow-up activities and community are viewed as essential for ongoing spiritual growth.
Since those initial Cursillos in the 1940s, the movement has spread rapidly, initially in Spain and across Latin America. Cursillo came to the United States in the late 1950s. It was embraced in the Catholic Church and adopted by several mainline Protestant denominations as well. Today, an estimated 5 million people worldwide have been through the 3-day Cursillo weekends. Most major Christian denominations have their own Cursillo expressions, including Catholic Cursillo, Lutheran Tres Dias, The Walk to Emmaus (Methodist), Anglican Cursillo, Presbyterian Cursillo, and several more.
The Cursillo Movement has been influenced by a number of factors that shaped its growth and expression:
– Spanish Catholic piety and mysticism, which emphasize prayer, sacrifice, and union with God. This influenced the Cursillo’s devotional aspects.
– Emphasis on lay leadership. In contrast to many religious movements begun by clergy, Cursillo highlighted the role of the laity.
– Vatican II (1962-65). This major Catholic Church council emphasized the role of the laity and encouraged lay apostolic movements like Cursillo. Many Protestants were similarly encouraging increased lay ministry.
– Charismatic Renewal. Beginning in the 1960s, many Christians experienced renewal in the Holy Spirit. This contributed to Cursillo’s emphasis on having a living, personal encounter with Christ.
– Small Group Movement. The use of small groups in discipleship and evangelism was growing across Christianity. Cursillo’s “Group Reunions” fit right into this trend.
– Evangelism and Spiritual Renewal. Postwar years saw a major emphasis across Christianity toward renewal, evangelism, and mission. Cursillo provided a method toward spiritual revitalization and equipping Christians to witness.
The Cursillo Movement continues to thrive today as a means of both renewing the faith of existing Christians and drawing new people to faith in Christ. It has particular appeal because of its experiential approach; its adaptability across denominations, cultures and languages; its low cost and simplicity of method; and its empowerment of the laity. While exact numbers are difficult to confirm, it’s likely that several million people have experienced Cursillo retreat weekends over the past half century. The Cursillo Movement is a significant lay spiritual movement within Christianity.
Here are some key aspects that characterize the Cursillo Movement:
– Emphasis on Personal Spiritual Experience with Christ – The core of Cursillo is encountering Christ in a real and personal way through prayer, study, worship, and fellowship. The weekend aims to move Christ from the theoretical to the experiential.
– Calling People to Become Fully Devoted Followers of Christ – Cursillo weekends challenge participants to commit their whole lives to following Jesus by centering everything on Him. The aim is complete devotion and surrender.
– Equipping for Christian Service – Cursillo aims to prepare ordinary Christians for active service in their homes, churches, communities and throughout the world. It affirms the ministry of the laity.
– Empowerment of the Laity – Unlike clergy-led movements, Cursillo highlights that the work of evangelism, ministry and mission belongs to all of God’s people, not just church professionals. It activates the laity.
– Spiritual Companionship & Support – Friendship groups (“Group Reunions”) provide ongoing companionship, support, study, and accountability to persevere in faith. Community is key.
– Unity in Diversity – Cursillo unites Catholics and Protestants, old and young, across denominations, languages and cultures. Unity in Christ transcends differences.
– Reproducibility – The Cursillo method focuses on equipping every believer to share their faith. It multiplies by empowering participants to become witnesses.
– Holistic Approach – Cursillo aims for complete and permanent life change. The weekends integrate mind, body and spirit through teachings, sacraments, prayer, music, meals, and community.
– Testimonial Approach – Cursillo uses personal witnesses by clergy and laity as an effective means of communicating the Gospel message and Christian living.
– Combination of Individual & Community – The weekends balance private reflection and prayer with communal worship, fellowship and small groups. Both the individual and community are key.
– Voluntary & Lay-led – Cursillo is a voluntary lay movement. No one is coerced. The weekends are organized and led by teams of dedicated lay volunteers.
– Adaptability Across Cultures – Cursillo has spread globally by adapting its methods to connect with localized cultures, music, styles, etc. while maintaining its core essence.
– Open to All – Cursillo is open to any Christians seeking spiritual renewal in their walk with Christ. All are welcome to attend the retreats and become part of the movement.
Cursillo has come to be known by its emphasis on piety, study, and action — growing deeper in one’s love for God, understanding the faith, and living it out actively in the world. It aims for the “conversion of the individual and through these individuals the conversion of families, communities, institutions and ultimately nations.” In this sense, while personal in approach, the Cursillo Movement professes a profoundly social vision as well. By renewing persons through grace, it aims to renew societies through those transformed lives.
As a movement, Cursillo has not been without controversy. Some criticize it for focusing too much on emotional religious experience. Others feel it fosters an unhealthy religious intensity or elitism. Some believe it is incompatible with non-liturgical Protestant spirituality. However, Cursillo continues to touch and change many lives through its emphasis on encountering Christ personally and equipping ordinary believers to become His witnesses in the world. For millions of Christians over nearly 80 years, Cursillo has served as a practical and powerful method for revitalizing their faith and becoming active in the life and mission of the church. It continues to grow and adapt across denominations globally as an authentic lay spiritual movement focused on evangelization.