I’ve been following an engaging conversation thread on our Private Facebook page, and it raises some interesting thoughts and questions.  That is:  What is the value of tradition in our ministry?  This particular thread points out that some communities have stopped singing “De Colores” as part of their weekend activities.  And that certainly is something they can choose to do as there are no provisions in the Essentials or any TDI policy decisions that address this tradition.  BUT … IS IT A WISE THING TO DO?  This is the focus of this month’s blog – because it’s more than just “De Colores!”

Have you ever wondered why some of the things we do during our weekends might seem a bit silly?  The simple answer is that these things, although not mentioned in the Essentials,  help us remember where we came from.  In a time when people want to focus on the present, it might seem strange to think about our history, but it really is important!

Let me start by saying that just about everything we do in Tres Dias is intentional!  And when people understand this, they’re usually less inclined to make changes.  Many of our (non-Essential) traditions have been around since our founding.  A number of years ago I had lunch with one of the men who helped to write the Essentials, and we talked about these traditions. Here are some of the questions I asked him:

• WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO USE SPANISH WORDS LIKE “PALANCA,” “ABRAZO,” “ROLLO,” “DE COLORES,” or even “TRES DIAS”?  His response was that it maintains a link to our origins (Cursillo started in Spain in the 1940’s and was Spanish speaking until a few years after it came to America).
• WHY DO ROLLISTAS DRESS UP WHEN GIVING THEIR TALKS? His response was that in Spanish culture of the 1940’s (when Cursillo was founded), someone dressing up – like men in jackets & ties – was a sign of respect.
• WHY DO WE SING DE COLORES WHEN GOING TO MEALS? His response was that it was part of the Cursillo movement where they took a popular Spanish folk song, Christianized the words, and used it for levity.  It’s a fun and light-hearted way to start our meals and build community – yet another way to maintain a connection to our roots.  It also serves as a reminder of the many colors of Christianity and how beautiful it is when Christians come together in unity.
• WHY DO WE OFTEN REFER TO EDUARDO BONIN, AND TO HIS LAMENT OF THE “CHRISTMAS TREE?”  He explained that Tres Dias really has TWO Foundings:
  • We generally acknowledge 1972 as the starting date for Tres Dias when the first weekend was held.
  • But the real beginning of Tres Dias dates back to the 1940’s and the founding of the Catholic Cursillo movement by Eduardo and others.  Without Cursillo, there would be no Tres Dias – and that’s important to remember!
  • And Eduardo’s use of the over-decorated Christmas tree is a reflection of Cursillo’s gradual use of too many non-Essentials activities, which is often mirrored in Tres Dias.
• WHY DO WE CREATE UNIQUE NAMES FOR OUR TABLES AT THE START OF EVERY WEEKEND? (Although not a universal practice, communities in the Northeast that came directly from the Founding Community have maintained this practice).  He said this was designed to be the first non-threatening activity on the weekend where candidates would work together to come up with a unique name and begin creating a sense of camaraderie. In other words, it was an intentional decision.

SUMMARY:  I think you get the idea: Although not in the Essentials, these traditions – particularly those that date back to our Founding – are important practices to maintain because they serve two purposes:

• They keep us connected to the founding principles of the Cursillo which served as the basis for Tres Dias. This includes linking us to the Spanish origins of the Cusillo/Tres Dias movements.
• They serve as bonding points. In addition to the Essentials, they give our communities a common sense of familiarity. These are things we all have in common which make it easier to relate to each other when we get together.

MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION:  Avoid the temptation to discard these traditions. Some of them may seem a bit silly to our “enlightened” senses of the 21st century but they still serve an important purpose!

If you’d like to keep the conversation going, join us on our Private Facebook page.

De Colores!

Jeff Mehl
President
Tres Dias International