Our world is in great need of Christians who blaze with God’s love. Tres Dias is meant to be a spark that ignites the fires in our hearts so we may burn brightly in our world as we share Christ with others in our environments. Everyone who attends a Tres Dias weekend has a different experience because we are unique in our personalities and backgrounds. The aim of the weekend is to evoke a basic response: a deeper commitment to Christ and the desire to live a life in grace.
Tres Dias weekends bring attendees into the presence of Christ, cause them to examine their life in relation to Him, and help them to realize that He is the Way. Although God is present throughout the weekends in a very real way, the events that occur are as structured as they are spontaneous. By design, the weekend builds slowly, gradually and steadily, with each part leading into the next. It was structured this way purposely so that those who attend for the first time – who are all virtually strangers on Thursday night – would become brothers or sisters in Christ in a loving community by Sunday afternoon.
Below is a summary of what happens during a Tres Dias weekend. This structure is taken directly from The Essentials of Tres Dias, which serves as the common denominator for ALL Tres Dias weekends held around the world.
Thursday evening begins with informal fellowship. The spiritual challenge is presented through two meditations. The first, “Know Thyself” is aimed at self-examination and consideration of the events which led to this particular place at this precise time. The second, “The Prodigal Son,” emphasizes the concept of God’s love and forgiveness. These meditations encourage introspection. Thursday concludes with a time of silence.
Friday begins with morning chapel and the “Three Glances of Christ” meditation. On men’s weekends, this is a study of the rich young men, Judas and Peter; and on women’s weekends, of the Samaritan women, Mary and Martha, and the adultress, and the manner in which each responded to Christ’s glance. Friday’s theme is the life in grace.
Saturday has Christian development as its theme. Saturday begins with morning chapel and the meditation, “The Figure of Christ,” which emphasizes the present living Christ in distinction from the historical figure. Saturday continues with the development of an awareness and concern for others and encourages us to personally draw close to Him.
The Sunday morning meditation is “Christ’s Message to the Pescadores” and tells us to go forth and bear fruit while maintaining contact with Christ and each other. The day continues with the presentation of the Tres Dias method for Christianizing the world. Christ’s command to witness and share with others is emphasized.
On each of the three days, the spiritual directors lead the community in liturgy – the sacrament of Holy Communion or Eucharist. The sacrament takes on new ecumenical power and spiritual presence as a central way to encounter the Risen Christ in the midst of the community.
Each day builds on the previous day. Similarly, each talk or “rollo” builds on the previous talk. There are 15 talks in all: 10 talks given by laity, and five given by clergy. Stated another way, the talks progress from understanding to commitment to love. The weekend appeals to all three areas.
IDEALS is the first rollo. It challenges us to consider what ideals motivate our living.
The GRACE rollo is a call to accept God’s gift of himself and live the fullness of God’s love.
The CHURCH draws the picture of the church as a community of Christians living in grace. It is a call to be a member of the people of God and to serve Him in the world.
The HOLY SPIRIT reveals God’s ever-present help in living the life in grace. Palanca is introduced at the end of the rollo.
The PIETY rollo sums up the first day. It provides witness of one who has responded positively to Christ’s glance, one who has chosen the life in grace with all it struggles and joys.
STUDY, the first rollow of Saturday, points out the need to know God’s will and illustrates through study how to live the life in grace. A table of book selections is available after this rollo.
The SACRAMENTS rollo teaches ways of personal encounter with Christ through the Church’s signs of grace and power.
The ACTION rollo tells in practical wasys how to see a friend, be a friend, and share Christ, your friend.
OBSTACLES TO GRACE shows us pitfalls that can draw us from the life in grace but whose trials can also enables us to grow in grace.
The LEADERS rollo, the last one of the second day, has more witness. It presents an appealing picture of being a leader reaching out to others in love.
ENVIRONMENTS starts the third phase of the weekend: re-entry into the world. It shows us the life in grace in the context of everyday living.
The LIFE IN GRACE rollo summarizes some of the main concerns of the weekend and develops a personal plan for spiritual growth.
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN ACTION illustrates the nature of Christian communities both in inner and outer actions. Our witness wherever we may be is the church’s witness.
REUNION GROUPS draw the picture of the Tres Dias method for the linking of Christian leaders into Christian community via small groups and monthly gatherings of the Tres Dias community.
THE FOURTH DAY rollo, the last of the weekend, is a witness of what can be accomplished by living as Christians the rest of our lives.
The team that serves on the weekend is the nucleus of the larger community that forms the weekend. As the weekend progresses, each table group forms a community by working together on posters and presentations, and praying together during the table chapel visits Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. As each table group shares with the larger group during evening poster sessions, a larger community is forming. The challenge then comes with the presentation of the crosses Sunday afternoon: “CHRIST IS COUNTING ON YOU!” As each attendee responds with “AND I AM COUNTING ON HIM” they are accepting the larger community of believers who await them at the Closing. Here, the weekend culminates as the entire community shares in Communion – one in Christ.
“It was he who gave gifts to mankind; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ’s full stature.” Ephesians 4:11-13
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