The Fourth Day

By Joe Sullivan, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

Recently, we conducted our first Miles Jesu 4th Day weekend. For those who are not familiar with the term “4th Day”, it is derived from the Cursillo Movement. 

The Cursillo Retreat weekend lasts three days and gives people the nuts and bolts of their Faith as well as inspiring them to turn their life around and truly live their Faith. It teaches people to know their life, examine it, reconcile themselves with God, and live a life of grace. 

The personal testimonies given during the Cursillo weekends are very moving and sometimes gut-wrenching. What makes these talks so powerful is that they are presented by lay people and are about their own life experiences. 

Being that a Cursillo is only three days, the “4th Day” refers to the rest of their lives. The “5th Day” begins the day we die and are welcomed into heaven after, hopefully, only a short layover in Purgatory.

Miles Jesu is a product of the Cursillo Movement. A group of young men wanted to live the “4th Day” of the Cursillo together. 

Last November, some of our Cursillo brothers spent the weekend at Miles Jesu. The purpose was to keep the spirit of Cursillo and of Miles Jesu alive as we live out “4th Day”. During the weekend, we did some street evangelization in Mesa, hiked a mountain, and volunteered at Andre House where we prepared and served dinner for the homeless in downtown Phoenix. We had a great time and hope to do it again soon. 

If you have never made a Cursillo, please contact us. It truly is a life changing experience and we highly recommend it.