EUCHARIST AND CURSILLO

“The Eucharistic celebration is the outstanding means by which the faithful can express
in their lives, and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true
Church” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #2).
“Every Eucharistic celebration, because it is the action of Christ the priest and of His
body the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church
can match Its claim to efficacy” (Ibid #7).
“At the Last Supper on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the
Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the
sacrifice of the Cross throughout the Centuries until He should
come again” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy #47).
“It is only right then that we who are led on a Pilgrimage by Christ, should not be present
at this mystery of faith as strangers or silent spectators. Rather we come to be instructed
by God’s word and refreshed at the table of the Lord’s body” (Ibid #48).
The sharing of what is fundamental for being a Christian* is supported by the sharing in
the Eucharist together. That is why the Eucharistic community is fostered in the Cursillo
weekend, with the sacramentality of the community as a Central theme.
In the Cursillo weekend we place special emphasis on the Eucharistic celebration as a
true announcement of the word of God, come to life. It is logical that the Eucharist
should have a priority ranking in the Cursillo weekend since the Eucharist is: a sacrament
of holiness, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, an Easter banquet, the source and summit
of Christian life. The Eucharist is the center of life during the three days. Making it the
center of our life during the weekend should encourage us to make it the center of our life
beyond the weekend.
Celebrating Mass daily in Cursillo weekend should create a thirst for us to continue the
practice after the weekend, if not everyday, perhaps occasionally during the week. The
Catholic faith is centered on the Eucharistthat
is why most parishes offer daily Mass for
the faithful.
1 Excerpted with permission from the Pilgrim’s Guide © 1994, 1996 Cursillos in Christianity in the United
States of America. All Rights Reserved.