FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR MARCH

 

Themes:

THE 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 Sienna – 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!

 

ST. 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 atheistic Communism and Materialism under new and innovative guises, with the final objective of a new world order of godless Socialism.  He is our Patron in the battle against this evil foe.  May he protect the Universal Church and Her faithful children from all harm of body and soul.

 

 

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 Our Mother of Sorrows     * Lenten Hymn

* Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St. Joseph to be recited after the Rosary

 

Meditation:                 * from the "Imitation of Christ" or  "The Friends of the Cross"

 

Study & Discuss:      * Officer's reports; Cell Memos; reading of Salve Maria Regina Bulletin or

"Unless Ye Do Penance."

 

 

FIRST MEETING:

1.   CATHOLIC LITURGY & DEVOTION: Discuss "The Holy Season of Lent: Part II – The Mystery of Lent" (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Article – "The Holy Season of Lent: Part II".

2.   THE SORROWS OF MARY: In light of the Season of Lent, discuss one or more of the Sorrows of Mary which were occasioned by the Passion of Her Divine Son (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: The Glories of Mary (section on the Seven Sorrows of Mary) by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori.

3.   COURT OF THE QUEEN: Read the list of saints' feasts observed during this month: Ven. Francisco Marto; St. Cunegunda; St. Casimir; St. Colette; St. Thomas Aquinas; St. Frances of Rome; St. Gregory the Great; St. Clement Maria Hofbauer; St. Heribert of Cologne; St. Cyril of Jerusalem; St. Benedict; St. Gabriel the Archangel; St. John Damascene; St. John of Capistrano.  Choose two or three saints from the first part of the list; briefly review their holy lives and the lessons and virtues we learn from them.  Discuss practical ways in which we can imitate them and apply their virtues in our own daily lives (10 min. report and discussion).  Reference: Martyrology; article on Francisco Marto, Salve Maria Regina Issue No. 120; article on St. Frances of Rome, Salve Maria Regina Issue No. 102; article on St. Heribert of Cologne.

 

SECOND MEETING:

1.   CATHOLIC LITURGY & DEVOTION: Discuss "The Holy Season of Lent: Part III – Practices During Lent" (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Article – "The Holy Season of Lent: Part III".

2.   MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Discuss the Doctrine of Mary, Co-Redemptrix, which declares that Our Lady truly participated in the Redemption of mankind, having been chosen for this office by God Himself.  Consider the elements of this doctrine, including God's choice of Our Lady, and Her intimate participation in all of the Sufferings of Her Divine Son for our Redemption (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Article, "The Blessed Virgin Mary, Co-Redemptrix of Mankind", Salve Maria Regina Issue No. 130.

3.   THE MIRACULOUS STAIRS OF ST. JOSEPH: Discuss this still-evident sign of the power of St. Joseph’s intercession (10 min. report and discussion).  Reference:  Article - "Miraculous Stairs of St. Joseph."

 

THIRD MEETING:

1.   ST. JOSEPH appeared at Fatima with Our Lady and the Christ Child on October 13th during the Miracle of the Sun, thus reminding the faithful of the importance of devotion to this glorious Patriarch.  Review Fr. Patrignani's article on the Advantages of Taking St. Joseph as a Special Patron (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Manual of Practical Devotion to St. Joseph; Book One; Chapter VII – "Motives for Devotion to St. Joseph: St. Joseph as a Special Patron", by Fr. Patrignani.   (Link above.)

2.    TITLES OF OUR LADY FROM THE LITANY OF LORETO: Discuss the title, “Virgin Most Merciful” (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 155.

3.    PRAYER, THE CHIEF DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN: Review the article, “We Must Pray with Humility” (10 min. report and discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 131.

 

FOURTH MEETING:

1.    THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Discuss the article on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Incarnation of Our Divine Savior in her womb.  Discuss the significance and importance of this primary Feast for consecrated slaves of Jesus through Mary (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 151.

2.    THE THIRD SECRET CONTROVERSY:  Discuss Part II of the Series (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 155.

3.    COURT OF THE QUEEN: Choose two or three saints from the latter part of the list above (First Meeting); briefly review their holy lives and the lessons and virtues we learn from them.  Discuss practical ways in which we can imitate them and apply their virtues in our own daily lives (10 min. report and discussion).  Reference: Martyrology; article on St. Cyril of Jerusalem in Salve Maria Regina No. 147; article –  "St. Gabriel the Archangel – God's Ambassador", Salve Maria Regina Issue No. 110; article on St. John Damascene in Salve Maria Regina No. 151.

 

FIFTH MEETING:

1.    THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the article "Passiontide and Holy Week" (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 136.

2.    MATER DOLOROSA: Discuss the articles “Our Sorrowful Mother: Co-Redemptrix” and “Mater Dolorosa, Lessons from the Queen of Martyrs” (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 120.

3.    LITURGY OF HOLY WEEK: In preparation for Holy Week, review the article “Palm Sunday” (10 min. report and discussion).  Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 148.

 


CLOSING PRAYERS:    * Litany of St. Joseph              * Prayer Before a Crucifix

                                       * Fatima Prayers                     * Hymn to St. Joseph

 

PAMPHLETS

OF THE MONTH:           * New Hope         * Unless Ye Do Penance

 


Cell Plan of Apostolic Action for March

 

v Make an act of love and devotion to Our Sorrowful Mother and Queen at every hour.

 

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

 

v Conversion of sinners, salvation of souls     v Adoration, reparation, total consecration

 

v  Eucharistic all-night Vigil on First Friday – First Saturday of the month.

v   Promote a truly spiritual and penitential observance of Lent in your family, Cell, school, or among friends.

v   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.

v   Family Practices: Pray the Angelus daily at noon and 6 a.m./p.m.; daily family reading on the Passion.

v   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.

v   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.

v  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.