FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR JANUARY

THEMES:

THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS. Holy Mother Church, having made known to us the Incarnation of the Son of God in the glorious Feast of His Nativity, now unfolds to us, during this month, the glories of His Most Holy Name. The origin of the feast of the Holy Name goes back to the sixteenth century. Among the Israelites a child received his name at the Rite of Circumcision. On the day that the Divine Infant was circumcised, He received the Name of Jesus, which signifies "Savior," and which had been given to Him by the Angel before He was conceived. That Name, so beautiful, so glorious, the Divine Child did not wish to bear for one moment without fulfilling its meaning. Already at the moment of His circumcision He showed Himself a Savior, by shedding for us that Precious Blood, of which a single drop is more than sufficient for the ransom and salvation of the whole world. The Church begins the year with the Name of Jesus, because She wishes that it should be imprinted upon us each day of the year. May the adorable Name of Jesus be impressed, above all, upon our whole being, upon all our actions; may it ever be on our lips, and in our hearts! "Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Col. 3:17)

THE HOLY FAMILY. In order to understand what makes marriage and family life truly pleasing to God, we need only consider the example of the Holy Family. Concerning Our Lord’s hidden life at Nazareth with Our Lady and St. Joseph, the Gospels sums it up in that "He was subject to them," and that He "advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men." Having stooped so low as to take a nature like to ours, sin excepted, He wished also to be "obedient unto death." Jesus could say of His Mother and Foster-Father what He said of His Heavenly Father, I do always the things that please Them. Out of a life of thirty-three years, Jesus, Who is Eternal Wisdom, chose to pass thirty years in silence and obscurity, obedience and labor. In a word, He gave us the perfect example of universal and heroic humility. Truly, He is a hidden God! Moreover, the Holy Family is a model for all Christian families. In the family life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are exemplified the proper relations that should exist between husband and wife, parents and children. There was filial devotion to God in that family circle of the three holiest Persons Who ever lived. While Saint Joseph supported the Holy Family by his labor, Mary managed the household, and Jesus assisted both of Them. They were united in Their daily tasks, and sanctified them by prayer and meditation. By practicing the domestic virtues of charity, obedience, and mutual help, They sanctified family life. We should often implore Them to sanctify our own family lives – that thy may worthily reflect Theirs. Our Lady lamented at Fatima, "Many marriages are not pleasing to God." They are not pleasing to God because they are not centered in Christ. Humility, docility and obedience are essential for family life to be centered in Christ. Daily family prayer and spiritual reading are a necessity, as well as proper parental supervision and discipline of the children, lest they be ruined by their weak, irregulated wills and the wanton spirit of our times. Reflect seriously upon the tragic warning of Our Lady of Good Success concerning the destruction of frivolous souls, and the value and importance of Fatima "family cells."

THE CHAIR OF UNITY OCTAVE. The Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome is celebrated on January 18th. The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul is observed on January 25th. Holy Mother Church has always united her praises for the Prince of the Apostles, St. Peter, with Her veneration for the zeal and holiness of St. Paul, a "vessel of election" for the spread of the infant Church. Thus, She has reserved eight days of solemn prayer—from the Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome until the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul—for the observance of "The Chair of Unity Octave"; eight days of solemn prayer for the One, Holy, Catholic Apostolic Church. The only unity for which the Church and Her faithful children can pray, as countless Pontiffs and Holy Councils have decreed, is that which results from the conversion of those who are outside the One, True Fold of the Church. Thus, each of the days of the Chair of Unity Octave is dedicated to prayers for the conversion of some poor segment of mankind which is still "walking in darkness," imploring that they may open their hearts to God's grace, and be converted to the true Shepherd of their souls. This is the exercise of true charity. To imagine, as do the heretical liberal ecumenists of our day, that we can achieve "unity" by pretending that those outside the Church do not stand in desperate need of conversion, is to deny the foundation of Christ's One True Church, and to renounce the very reason for the heroic apostolic labors and martyrdom of the Holy Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul.

OPENING PRAYERS: * Come Holy Ghost * The Rosary with meditation on each mystery

* The Litany of Our Lady of Loreto * Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

* Prayer to St. Joseph after the Rosary * Hymn to Our Lady

* Prayer to the Divine Infant Jesus

MEDITATION: * from "My Imitation of Christ"; or The Glories of Mary on the Immaculate Conception.

STUDY & DISCUSS: * Officer's reports; Cell Memos; reading of the Salve Maria Regina Bulletin.

First Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the articles on the Feasts of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Epiphany (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above; see also Salve Maria Regina No. 129.
2. HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD: Feasts of Our Lady during January: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1); Our Lady of Banneux (Jan. 15); The Espousals of Our Lady and St. Joseph (Jan. 23) and Our Lady of Cana (Jan. 31) – in connection with these last two feasts, discuss the Catholic ideals of a truly holy married life (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above; Encyclical of Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii, on Christian Marriage.
3. THE HOLY FAMILY: Discuss the upcoming Feast of the Holy Family (Jan. 11) (10 min. report and discussion). Reference: See link above.

Second Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the Liturgical Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord – the Octave of Epiphany (Jan. 13) and the Feast of the Holy Family (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
2. MOST HOLY MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Review the article on Our Lady of Good Success (Jan. 16). (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
3. COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Choose 2 or 3 of the following Saints for a 10 min. report and discussion: St. Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; St. Canute, King and Martyr; St. Ildephonsus, Bishop of Toledo. Reference: See links above.

Third Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the Liturgy for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, and the Chair of St. Peter at Rome (Jan. 18 – 10 min. report, 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
2. MARY IN THE GOSPELS: Discuss the first half of Part XI – The Purity of Mary a Higher Privilege than Her Maternity (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
3. CHAIR OF UNITY OCTAVE: Review this month's theme (above) – The Chair of Unity Octave. Review also the true ideals of Christian Unity as taught by Pope Pius XI (10 min. report and discussion). Reference: Encyclical – Mortalium Animos.

Fourth Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25) and the Eve of Septuagesima (Jan. 31 – 10 min. report, 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
2. MARY IN THE GOSPELS: Discuss the second half of Part XI – The Purity of Mary a Higher Privilege than Her Maternity (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
3. COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Choose 2 or 3 of the following Saints for a 10 min. report and discussion: St. John Chrysostom, Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church; the Glorious Father of Christendom, St. Karl the Great; and St. Francis de Sales. Reference: See links above.

CLOSING PRAYERS: Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus and Hymn
Saint Louis Marie de Montfort’s Prayer to Jesus
The Fatima Prayers

LEAFLETS OF THE MONTH: Peace be to You; And His Own Received Him Not

CELL PLAN OF APOSTOLIC ACTION FOR JANUARY

* Adoration, reparation, total consecration

* Make an act of love and reparation to Our Immaculate Queen and Her Infant Son at every hour.

* To promote the Message of Fatima * Sanctification of self, family, neighbor

* Conversion of sinners, salvation of souls