What do you mean by that?

As you get more involved with 4th Day Communities such as Tres Dias you will find that there are a lot of terms used to define the same things in different communities.

Here's just a short list of terms we use in Tres Dias (at least on Long Island, anyway) and what we mean by them. Note: this is how they are SPELLED correctly.

Palanca -- literally, a long plank of wood that is used to lift heavy objects, like a lever on a fulcrum. We use this term to describe the prayers, letters, and actions that help to lift a candidate closer to God. There are many kinds of palanca. Spiritual palanca is prayer, which may include fasting. Service palanca includes serving meals, setting up the Agape room, working on team, or watching your candidate's children while they are attending the Weekend. There is table palanca (given out at meals, left on the tables), general palanca (passed out in the Rollo Room usually with a general letter), and personal palanca (letters and small gifts, usually given directly to the candidates in their rooms, either left on their desk or on their bed; sometimes called bed palanca.)(Emmaus, Cursillo and Chrysalis use the term Agape)

Secuela -- periodic meetings of the Tres Dias Community, at least bimonthly, to share our 4th Day experience. They include food, worship, a 4th Day Speaker and small group sharings. (Emmaus: Gathering, Cursillo: Ultreya, Chrysalis: Hoot)

Candidate -- a person on a Weekend as a participant, not on team. (Emmaus: Pilgrim, Cursillo: Cursillista, Chrysalis: Caterpillar)

Pescador -- once a Candidate has completed a Weekend, s/he is a Pescador. Literally it means Fisherman, and since Jesus called His disciples Fishers of Men we use this term to mean anyone who has completed the Tres Dias experience. Plural is Pescadores, which rhymes with De Colores (pes-ka-door-ayz). (Emmaus: Pilgrim, Cursillo: Cursillista, Chrysalis: Butterfly)

Abrazo -- a big hug!

Agape -- the feast of love at the end of the Second Day (usually Saturday).

Mananita -- the serenading of the candidates by the community. In our tradition, the women sing to the men, and vice versa. This is traditionally Sunday morning.

De Colores -- a Spanish folk tune that became associated with Cursillo during its inception. It is sung to remind us of the roots of our Tres Dias movement, and to symbolize the ecumenical nature of our bonds. We use "De Colores" as a greeting. (Go Here to listen to De Colores in Spanish on YouTube.com)

Palancateer -- the designated person who prays continually during a Rollo, usually in a small prayer chapel set aside for this purpose.

Apostolic Hour--the Cross Presentation ceremony at the end of the Weekend.

I hope this little "glossary" helps answer any questions you may have concerning the "lingo" of Tres Dias.

If there are any other terms you need explained, or just want to know the correct spelling or pronounciation, please drop us a comment.