March 2011 Fatima Cell Program

THE SACRED PASSION OF OUR DIVINE LORD. This month of the Passion imposes on all of us the serious obligation to reflect on Our Lady's plea at Fatima for Amendment of Life – She warned: “Men must cease offending God, Who is already too much offended." St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori relates: "…Our Lord revealed to several holy women – to St. Gertrude, St. Bridget, St. Mechtilde, and St. Catherine of Siena – that they who meditate on His Passion are very dear to Him. According to St. Francis de Sales, the Passion of Our Redeemer should be the ordinary subject of the meditation of every Christian. Oh, what an excellent book is the Passion of Jesus! There we understand, better than in any other book, the malice of sin, and also the mercy and love of God for man. To me it appears that Jesus Christ has suffered so many different pains – the scourging, the crowning with thorns, the crucifixion, etc. – that, having before our eyes so many painful mysteries, we might have a variety of different subjects for meditating on His Passion, by which we might excite sentiments of gratitude and love. St. Augustine writes that 'there is no more profitable occupation for the soul than to meditate daily on the Passion of Our Lord'." If we are lacking confidence, gratitude, devotion and fidelity to grace, the solution is the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. All we need do is imitate St. Konrad of Parzham, who lived the words: "The Cross is my book." Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis!

SAINT JOSEPH. On October 13th, St. Joseph also appeared at Fatima in a tableau representing the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. St. Joseph is uniquely powerful in his ability to intercede for us before the Throne of God. For, not only is he the perfect model for Fatima apostles in striving to faithfully fulfill their sacrifices of daily duty, but he has also been named by several Popes as the Patron of the Universal Church, which is now in mortal combat with the numerous enemies of Christ. We turn to St. Joseph as we witness the spread of godless Materialism, atheistic Socialism and diabolical militant Islam. He is our powerful Patron in the battle against these global terrors and insidious foes. May he protect the Universal Church and Her faithful children from all harm of body and soul.

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

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

* Conversion of sinners, salvation of souls ... * Adoration, reparation, total consecration

Eucharistic all-night vigil on First Friday/Saturday of the month.
Promote a truly spiritual and penitential observance of Lent in your family, Cell, school, or among friends.
Special observance of the Feasts of Good St. Joseph and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – daily devotions to St. Joseph during March; Novena before the Feast of the Annunciation.
Family Practices: Pray the Angelus daily at noon and 6 a.m./p.m.; daily family reading on the Passion.
Personal Resolve: To accept all the crosses God sends in loving union with Jesus Crucified and Our Mother of Sorrows; resolve to perform greater penance, mortification, atonement, and reparation, in our daily lives (as did the Fatima children) – to live every moment in union with Jesus Crucified.
Make the Via Crucis & Via Matris Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross & the Chaplet of Our Sorrowful Mother) as a Cell (or family) weekly (or more often) during Lent.
Make visits to hospitals and homes for the elderly. Brighten their day with spiritual encouragement; distribute Fatima pledges, Brown Scapulars, Miraculous Medals, Sacred Heart badges, Salve Maria Regina Bulletins, The Reign of Mary, and leaflets to those open to receiving and properly using these spiritual aids. Explain to them the great value of offering their sufferings for the missions of the Religious and the work of the Fatima Crusade, for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls.