Patron of Cursillo
    Feast Day: January 25  

Saint Paul, Patron of Cursillo, pray for us...


On December 14, 1963, Pope Paul VI signed a 27 line pontifical decree in Latin which stated:
 

"…In Rome, near St-Peter, after much thought and 
with the fullness of Our pontifical authority, 
We name and declare the blessed Apostle Paul, 
heavenly patron saint before God for the Cursillo Movement." 

(The following article was taken from the June 2009 newsletter of the National Cursillo Center.)  

By Fr. Einer R. Ochoa, National Spiritual Advisor

Beloved brothers and sisters of Cursillos in Christianity, a teacher of Piety, Study, and Action (Postcursillo). St Paul had a zeal for the glory of God before and after his conversion (Piety). He studied under Gamaliel and after his conversion on the road to Damascus he spent three years in reflection of his new found faith (Study). His letters are the showcase of a man who was a tireless evangelizer (Action).

St. Paul modeled his PIETY after Jesus, his master. He was a man of prayer, “This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come; …” Mt 6:9-13. “In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.” Rom 8:26-27. “After Jesus had gone indoors his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive the spirit out?’ “Only prayer can drive this kind out.” answered Jesus; “nothing else can.” Mk 9:28-29.

St. Paul learned to ask through prayer: “Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for God’s people. And pray also for me, that God will give me a message when I am ready to speak, so that I may speak boldly and make known the gospel’s secret. For the sake of this gospel I am an ambassador, though now I am in prison. Pray that I may be bold in speaking about the gospel as I should.” Eph 6:18-20.

“Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. At the same time pray also for us, so that God will give us a good opportunity to preach his message about the secret of Christ.” Col 4:2-3.

“Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7.

St. Paul and the Eucharist. “For I received from the Lord the teaching that I passed on to you; that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.”  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.” 1Cor 11:23-25.

St. Paul was a learned man who knew the Holy Scriptures and found in them the fulfillment of God’s promise in Jesus and the Church (STUDY). “In him who is the source of my strength I have strength for everything.” Phil 4:13. “Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil…” Eph 6:10-11. “The life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20. “We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his decree.” Rom 8:28. “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.” Rom 12:2.  

 

St. Paul’s travels, his evangelization, and the exuberance of his letters are proofs of his ACTION. At the twilight of his life he was able to say with conviction: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me; on that day the Lord, just judge that he is, will award it to me-and not only to me, but to all who have looked for his appearing with eager longing.” 2Tm 4:7-8. The work of St. Paul is a legacy in the many churches he founded in Asia Minor, Macedonia, Achaia, and other regions. His sufferings, numerous as they are, are the price he paid for the birthing of those communities. “I traveled continually, endangered by floods, robbers, my own people, the Gentiles; imperiled in the city, in the desert, at sea, by false brothers; enduring labor, hardship, many sleepless nights; in hunger and thirst, and frequent fasting, in cold and nakedness. Leaving other sufferings unmentioned, there is that daily tension pressing on me, my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Cor 11:26-28.

At the June’s closing of the year of St. Paul, our hearts look with gratitude to him as an example of a strong faith in God, of hope in his promises, and of an ardent love for all brothers and sisters in the faith in our one Holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church and in the Worldwide movement born in Cala Figuera more than 60 years ago: Cursillos in Christianity.

DE COLORES!  

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