Fourth Day Articles

The Fourth Day Piety

Community And Study

Action or Evangelization

The Fourth Day Newsletter

Spiritual Advisor: Deacon Manuel D. Vilaboy

Lay Director: Mary Ott

Editor: Julie Dembski Tyler

Circulation: Cliff Findley

Deacon Manny Vilaboy

"ON LENT AND PALM SUNDAY"

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Lay Director - Mary Ott

From the Lay Director

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Tom and Carol Schweitzer

Pre-Cursillo Comments

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Ken & Carol Kluener / Lou and Kay Lunne

Post Cursillo Comments

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Julie Dembski Tyler

"A Thought And A Thank You From Your Editor"

ON LENT AND PALM SUNDAY

One of the difficulties in writing this article each month (particularly for a non-experienced, non-academically trained writer), is to have to write so far in advance. These notes are written on Fat Tuesday and they will arrive at your hands perhaps a month later. How can one be mentally in tune with a time or season so far ahead? So, this month I will attempt to relate to the beginning of Lent and up to Palm Sunday.

We have already entered into this year’s Lenten times. If our social life continues its normal patterns, it cannot be the same for our faith life and even the interior life of our Christian community.

From the beginning, Lenten time has always been the time for a deep reflection of the Christian Mystery and of penitence. Maybe we no longer need to make special penitence. For many, our own lives bring enough penitence. But we do need a special time to dedicate ourselves to reflection, interior silence and to prayer. Perhaps in this long period of time of Lent, we could concentrate our attention on the mystery of human existence, where life and death play major roles.

Jesus died to give us life. Yet, is it possible that many only live to die? What does it means to live and what does it mean to die for our society today in our modern Church…..in the heart of our own community? Good themes for reflection this Lent.

As we move into Palm Sunday, we must begin to reflect in the celebration of two of Christ’s greatest mysteries -- His death and Resurrection. In doing so, it is helpful to keep in mind St. Paul’s admonition to the Philippians, Chapter 2, verse 5: “Your attitude must be that of Christ.”

In reality, to celebrate the Holy Week which we begin on Palm Sunday, it has to be much more than to just remember what happened to Jesus--His suffering and death; much more than to feel sorry for the difficult situation He had to go through; and much more than to gather at special religious events. We must reflect on the fact that “He lived the full drama of man,” since “acting like any human being, He descended down to Death and God raised Him” to life eternal.

Holy Week brings out the depth of the mystery of man, with all of his feelings, his passions, his struggles, his contradictions, his inevitable outcome.

Reflecting on Christ’s life, we should also meditate in our own lives to try to discover its true and full meaning.

May this Lenten Season be a fulfilling preparation for Easter.

Deacon Manny.

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From the Lay Director

In the early 1940’s, there were several men in this world spewing hatred and evil. It seemed that this demonic influence was spreading quickly and transforming everyone it touched. At the same time, on an island just off Spain, there was a young man who, with his friends, was listening to another Voice. The Voice of the Holy Spirit. This small group of men began what we know of today as “The Cursillo Movement”.

Now, here it is 2008. We have a culture that regards self-control as “repression,” respectability as “authoritarian,” and uncouthness as “honesty,” all of which has led to unprecedented levels of vulgarity. That is only the “tip of the iceburg.” There are many things much worse, unimaginable, unthinkable things, happening every day, all over this world.

I use the words of Mary who can, “Deliver us from the evil one.” (Mt.6:13), Mary, Jesus’ Mother, words that she has used repeatedly at Lourdes and Fatima, and other times and places, “Pray, Repent, Sacrifice, Fast,” and I add, do Palanca. If you and I are going to turn this world around, that is what we have to do. There are no short cuts. There is no ‘easy’ solution. And, we have to do it all in Great Joy, since joy is a true sign of a Christian.

Get out your Service Sheet and go over your prayer and study. When you meet in your weekly group, encourage one another to spend more time with Our Lord, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. Offer extra prayer and sacrifice together. At Ultreya strengthen the resolve of someone who can and should do more for their spiritual life. When you are “making a friend, being a friend,bringing that friend to Christ,” could that friend benefit from Cursillo. Where would you be if you were never invited to live a Cursillo Weekend.

I would like to remind everyone of something a favorite priest of mine says, “We’ve all read the Book” (Bible). And we all know how it ends, “We Win.”

Mary Ott

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Pre-Cursillo Comments

Pre Cursillo thoughts…

A Reporter once asked Mother Teresa if she thought her work would be successful. Her response was “young man, the Lord doesn’t call me to be successful, He calls me to be faithful.”

In the Cursillo, we are called to be faithful to our piety, study, and action, as well as, faithful to our group reunion and to our Ultreya. It is in our faith-filled life of sharing that we become holy.

The primary lesson of Cursillo is to know the faithful love God has for us, thereby enabling us to learn to love others. As we learn this awesome lesson, we will now find ourselves open to sharing our faith with those we meet through our friendship. We will learn in the openness of this friendship to extend the invitation to meet Christ face to face in a Cursillo weekend. Remember Christ is counting on “YOU”.

- De Colores ! Tom & Carol Schweitzer

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Post Cursillo thoughts…

The experience of the three days certainly helps us lay our course for living a life in grace. What a great experience that was for all of us, but as we know, that was just a beginning.

The Fourth Day committee, with the blessing of the Secretariat, is planning a 4th Day Workshop for all of us who would like to renew our commitment to grow. I can assure you this will be a day of joy, learning, inspiration and renewal. The date is Saturday May 3rd beginning with coffee and donuts (gotta have plenty of food at Cursillo functions) with the times to be announced in the near future. Mark your calendar now and we will fill you in on the details soon. We hope you will join us!

Lou & Kay Lunne

Ken & Carol Kluener

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A thought and a thank you from your Editor

A thought and a thank you from your Editor

Over this past weekend (men’s #216), the women’s team from November were prepared to provide the meal for Sunday lunch, which is our custom.

However, I received a call from my step-mom advising that my dad was in the hospital. During a regular preventative procedure, something began to indicate his heart was in trouble. So in a matter of hours, two of my brothers and I were on our way to be with him and find out what was happening. And, in those same hours, the kingdom of God was hard at work.

With a few phone calls and emails not only was God’s ear being whispered into about caring for my dad and our safe travel, but the women with whom I planned to cook and serve with on Sunday, as well as my loving husband, rallied and made alterations to our original plan to take care of the important work of Cursillo (we all know how important the food is!) Truthfully, though, all the work done on the weekend is important because it is the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on earth – no need left unmet.

So, as my brothers and I drove home from Florida today, many thoughts came to mind and a grateful heart emerged.

Due to one medical check and the prayers of many people, a greater potential health matter was found so it could be identified and treated and we are aware of something that was unknown before now -- a true blessing. Not only did my blood family rally together to take care of one of God’s children, but my brothers and sisters in the kingdom rallied together and filled a need so that other children of God wouldn’t be left un-served – another blessing.

We are blessed people because our “family” is not limited by blood. If the kingdom of God here on earth is this good, can you imagine how much more it will be IN heaven?

My thanks to all those who took care of the work at the last minute and filled the needs of your brothers and sisters – from cooking, picking up, delivering and serving the meal – to praying and covering my Adoration hour for me. I know Christ has blessed each of you for your care and I am praying for many more blessings for each of you.

Happy Fourth Day to the new Cursillistas. I look forward to meeting you.

DeColores, Julie Tyler

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Let us pray…Lord, may those we serve in your name find in us, the Fourth Day Community, the warmth of your love, the example of service you call each of us to and the great desire to draw closer to you through our journey together. Amen.