Columbus Cursillo at 641 Cusseta Hwy, Box Springs, GA 31801 US - There Is a Cost

The following is the August 2007 Ultreya Witness Talk given by Ismael Nazzario. Ultreya August 2007 I am a birth Catholic and was not too involved in my church until I joined the Knights of Columbus in 1974. I then became more active in the Church and Community because, we had an active Council and many of our K of C members belonged to OLL in Owensboro, KY. Became active in the OLL Men’s Club also. In 1983, I moved to Evansville, IN for a year and a half and then, to Haubstadt, IN where I had transferred my membership and was very active in our parish, St. Peter & Paul. Ever since joining the K of C, I had heard about Cursillo and had been invited to make a weekend at the same period. Naturally I hesitated because I just had too much to do. I made my Cursillo in 1996 and before, I had always been a strong Catholic, but, it used to upset so much when my religion was question by others, especially Protestants, I was mad at myself, because, I could not defend my religion for lack of biblical and faith knowledge. I was as naïve as most birth Catholics are about The Catholic religion. We were taught, “This is the way it is so I accepted it”. I never prepare myself for a mass and just said the regular prayers before communion and after. I supported the church but mechanically, meaning, I was there when I supposed to be and helped in some ways. In February of 1996, after waiting for 2 years, I finally made my Cursillo. I was very hesitant at first, but, after it was all over I did not want to live the Catholic Center in Evansville. I used to pray only prayers taught to me by my parents, Priest and Nuns. I learned how to pray from the heart and what it difference it has made in my prayer life. Our theme in my weekend was “Follow me and I will make you a Fisher of Men”. Then I selected a method of morning prayers. I always start with “Come Holy Spirit and Fill the Hearts of us your Faithful”. Then, some traditional and mostly heart prayers or 50/50. Then I started reading from the Bible, the suggested morning readings that, is in our Pilgrim guide: James on Monday, Peter on Tuesday, Book of Sirach on Wednesday, Peter on Thursday, and St. Paul to the Corinthians on Friday, Philippians on Sat and Timothy on Sunday. That was the beginning of my bible studies and did not know it. Through the scripture readings I found out and experienced what the Catholic Church is all about and it is a guide for us to salvation. For the last 8 to 9 years I have been reading in the bible, the daily mass, from the missals that, I take home. I had no idea that, I was COMMITING myself to learn about the Catholic Faith and finding it such a joy, because I was hungry for knowledge of the Catholic Faith to the point that I was asked to speak to a Baptist Congregation about the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Faith. During this period of learning, I find, that, there is a price for going to heaven. It is not a free ride. During my reading of scriptures, Jesus said, that, it will be easier for a camel to enter through a needle of an eye than for us to enter heaven. That is scary or it was to me. I thought that, by been a lector, Eucharistic Minister, Cantor, Usher and doing Communion Services, would be enough. I am afraid that, it is not. It is just like when in my much younger days when I was an athlete. We had spring training, year around lifting weights, personal training so I could be the best football player that I could be. It got me to the pros for a short time. It was the same in other sports and fraternal offices, The K of C. I excelled by hard work. My father was the same as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in basketball and he was probably one of the first SGT. Majors at FT. Benning. It was Commitment. I was committed, that, I did not want to miss any of my men grouping sessions and to keep it structured, other wise, we talk about unimportant things and try to keep the Cursillo alive. I have a good group and we pray for each other. We have asked other Cursillista men to join us, but, they have other things to do or they are just not committed as some to their faith. I realize, that, commitment and preparation is not for everyone. It carries to high price. If one evening, while sleeping, we have a dream just like Joseph, Father of Jesus, Mary, Mother of Jesus, Jona, the apostle John in the land of Patmus and many other prophets, that, tomorrow is the last day of your life. How would we react? We would probably skip whatever we were going to do and get to church, knock the doors open, pray, wake Father so he can listen to our confession and received the Eucharist and stay there until the time comes because, we want to get to heaven. When you meet St. Peter at the purley gates and you have a smile on your face because you did all you could possibly do to get ready and he is reviewing your life and he says, that, you did great this last day of your life, but, what about the years before? Times, that, you were in the house of the Lord and you talk about unimportant things to others instead of preparing for mass, preparing to receive the Holy Eucharist, talking and not respecting the Exposed Eucharist during adoration and never genuflect in front of the Tabernacle, where He is present and show reverance and not be faithful except during mass? What if we did not warn you a day before and just took you by surprise? Will you be ready? I try to get to church at least 30 minutes before mass, say a rosary and personal prayer in preparation for the scriptures and Eucharist, also read the readings and gospel for that day before mass. It has made a difference in my understanding of the word. I wish Catholic Churches before mass would recite at least the Rosary before mass but, at Holy Family, Fr, Patterson explains that, it would disrupt the people that are praying. The only people that, it would disrupt are the ones that are talking. It would help if priest would stress the importance of preparation from the Pulpit to the congregation. I know that it would help. One of the biggest obstacles that we all have is that, we want self control. That includes me also. Many times the Lord has let me know that, He is in control, not I and I know, that, when he is in control things go much better. I have been turned down by him numerous times. I have learned that when he turns me down it is for my own good because, He knows what is good for me. He has a plan for each of us. The times that Bob Spano and I try to promote our Ultreya and the obstacles, that, presents in front of us, are incredible. Some of this obstacles comes from some of our Cursillista locally. To quote Bob, ”We must be doing something right because of the objections and obstacles are present”. This are unbelieving times. Disrespect for life, national and local killings, abortions 4400 annually, negative news media, television and so on. I try to pray at decisive times for guidance to make the right decision whether popular or unpopular to myself or others. I find, that, when you pray earnestly he will listen and if we are sincere, unselfish and just listen, He will respond to us. Perseverance is another major factor. To quote Jimmy Valvano, the Basketball coach from North Carolina State where he stated, “Never, Never Give Up.” We must keep praying and keeping the faith, that, God’s plan is much better than ours regardless of our hurts and wants. At present I am involved in a religious battle with St. Francis Hospital, our so called Catholic Hospital, where as, our Catholic Faith is been question and has taken a back seat to other faiths. I turn to My Lord and scriptures for guidance and also standing up for what the 3 RD Precept of the Knights of Columbus is. Fraternity, meaning what do I know about my faith and I am willing to stand up for it. I hope and pray that, we all persevere in our faith, commitment and preparation of our Catholic Faith. May God Bless each and everyone of us.

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