FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR MAY
THEME – DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
:
- Study of her life, her apparitions, and her integral role in the Divine Plan for the
Redemption and Salvation of mankind.
- Fervent and zealous participation of all Fatima Crusaders in special daily devotions in
her honor.
- Devout participation in May processions honoring Our Lady, especially on the Feast of
her Queenship.
- Total
Consecration to Mary – the De Montfort "Holy Slavery of
Love" as the precise fulfillment of Our Lady's request at Fatima for consecration to
her Immaculate Heart; truly living as a consecrated slave of Mary.
OPENING PRAYERS: * Come Holy Ghost * The Rosary with meditation
on each Mystery
* The Litany of Loretto * Prayer to St. Michael * Prayer to Our Lady of
Fatima
* Hymn: 'Tis the Month of Our Mother * Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St.
Joseph after the Rosary
MEDITATION: * from "True Devotion to Mary" or
"The Path of Mary"
STUDY & DISCUSS: *
Officer's reports; Cell Memos; reading of the Salve Maria Regina Bulletin.
First Meeting:
THE SACRED LITURGY: Discuss the importance and a true Catholic observance of the
Rogation Days (May 2-4), the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord (May 5), and the Feast of
Mary, Queen of the Apostles (May 7). (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference:
Liturgical Booklet – The
Rogation Days; article – "The
Ascension of Our Divine Lord"; Liturgical Booklet – May Devotions.
QUEEN OF THE MAY: Consider Pope Pius XII’s exhortation in his Encyclical on
the Queenship of Our Lady to honor her with daily devotions during her special month.
Fatima Crusaders also observe these other titles of Our Lady during May: Patrona Bavariae
(May 1); Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii (May 7); Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament
(May 13); Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost (May 13); Regina Pacis-Queen of Peace (May 14);
Rosa Mystica–Mystical Rose (May 16). (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion.) Reference:
Parts 1-33 of Ad Cæli Reginam of Pope Pius
XII; Liturgical Booklet – May Devotions.
THE COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: We cannot hope to dwell one day in the Heavenly
Court of Our Immaculate Queen unless we strive diligently in the pursuit of holiness. The
blessed who already dwell in her Heavenly Court are inspirations for us in this pursuit of
that life of holiness to which Jesus calls us. Read the following list of feasts, and
choose 2-3 saints to reflect upon during this meeting: St. Joseph the Worker; St.
Athanasius; Pope St. Pius V; St. John before the Latin Gate; St. Michael the Archangel;
St. Monica; St. Achatius; Ss. Phillip & James; St. Boniface; St. John Baptist de la
Salle. (10 min. report & reflection; discuss briefly the lessons learned and virtues
taught by their lives, and how to practically apply these virtues in our own daily lives.)
Reference: Martyrology; The Fourteen
Holy Helpers; St. Michael and the Angels; Article on St. Joseph the Worker in
Salve Maria Regina No. 92.
Second Meeting:
THE INCREDIBLE CATHOLIC MASS: Discuss pgs. 179-187 – Chapter 11: Holy Mass
is the Most Excellent Burnt-Offering (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference: The
Incredible Catholic Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem.
LIVING THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA: The First Apparition of Our Lady on May 13, 1917;
study her words to the Fatima children on this occasion, and the lessons to be drawn
therefrom. Focus especially on Our Lady's request for a willing reparation to be made for
sin. Examine how the little children responded so generously to Our Lady's plea by
offering up heroic sacrifices of physical penance (and even persecution) for the
conversion of poor sinners and for the Holy Father (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference:
"Our Lady Came to Fatima, the First
Apparition".
STRIVING FOR SANCTITY: Continue the series: "Prayer,
the Chief Duty of the Christian – The Confidence with which We Ought to Pray"
(15 min. report and discussion). Reference: Article in Salve Maria Regina No. 138.
Third Meeting:
VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS—SEASON OF PENTECOST: Discuss the importance of
acquiring the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Ghost, and their workings in our souls. Also
discuss the article "Mary and the Descent
of the Holy Ghost" (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference:
Liturgical Booklet – Novena to the Holy Ghost;
Salve Maria Regina No. 137 (link above).
VIRTUES OF THE CHILDREN OF MARY: Discuss the ideals of virtue as proposed in The
Manual of the Children of Mary, written in the not too distant past. Note
especially the difference between the moral values of the pre-Vatican II era compared with
those of today's world (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference: "Virtues of the Children of Mary"
– Salve Maria Regina No. 138.
THE COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: How does meditating upon the lives of the
saints inspire us to a more perfect living of our consecration to our Heavenly Queen? Read
the following list of feasts, and choose 2-3 saints to reflect upon during this meeting:
St. Simon Stock; St. Paschal Baylon; St. Rita of Cascia; St. Phillip Neri; St. Bede the
Venerable; St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (10 min. report & reflection; discuss briefly
the lessons learned and virtues taught by their lives, and how to practically apply these
virtues in our own daily lives). Reference: Martyrology;
article on St. Simon Stock and the Brown Scapular, Pledge
of Life Eternal – Our Lady's Gift of the Brown Scapular.
Fourth Meeting:
THE INCREDIBLE CATHOLIC MASS: Discuss pgs. 188-198 – Chapter 12: Holy Mass
is the Most Sublime Sacrifice of Praise (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference:
The Incredible Catholic Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem.
MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Discuss the importance of the Feast of Mary, Help
of Christians, celebrated on May 24 (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion.) Reference:
Cover article from Salve Maria Regina No.
111; Liturgical Booklet – May Devotions.
CATHOLIC LITURGY AND TRADITION: Discuss the historical origin of the Feast of
Corpus Christi and the reason for instituting this beautiful festival honoring the Most
Blessed Sacrament on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Consider also the importance of
making reparation to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus; the significance of the "Fatima
Prayers", taught by the Angel of Portugal to the three little children, expressing
the profound Mystery of the Blessed Eucharist; the importance of a fervent spiritual
preparation for the reception of Holy Communion; the importance of spiritual Communions
when unable to receive sacramentally; what is meant by living a truly "Eucharistic
life", and how this is always evident in souls who are fervently living their Total
Consecration to Mary (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference: The Holy Eucharist by Liguori; The Blessed
Eucharist by Mueller; article – "The
Historical Origin of the Feast of Corpus Christi".
Fifth Meeting:
WHERE WE GOT THE BIBLE: Discuss the Introduction – pgs. 1-7. Note
especially the calumnies listed by the author against the Catholic Church, which were
common in his time. What other false accusations do we sometimes hear in our own time,
especially from "fundamentalists"? Discuss prudent ways to refute these
calumnies (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference: Where We Got the
Bible by Rev. Henry G. Graham.
THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS: The Fatima Children were told that the Sacred
Heart of Jesus desires to be venerated with the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the Fatima
Prayers exhort us to pray for the conversion of poor sinners through the infinite merits
of the Sacred Heart. Review the article of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori on Devotion to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus. Discuss means of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus;
the great promise of the Nine First Fridays; Enthronement of the home and family to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus; nocturnal hours of adoration and reparation; Our Lady of the Sacred
Heart (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion). Reference: Love, Peace, and Joy
by St. Gertrude; The Holy Eucharist by Liguori (pp. 229-234, "Notice on
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus"); article – "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart" and
excerpt from the Encyclical Haurietis
Aquas of Pope Pius XII in Issue No. 123 of Salve Maria Regina; article – "Love
of the Heart of Mary for the Sacred Heart" in Issue No. 93 of Salve Maria
Regina;
AD CÆLI REGINAM: Discuss the institution of the Feast of the Queenship of Mary,
celebrated on May 31, by Pope Pius XII, promulgated in this Encyclical (15 min. report and
discussion). Reference: Parts 34-53 of Ad
Cæli Reginam of Pope Pius XII.
CLOSING PRAYERS:
|
- Mary, Immaculate Queen of the Universe
- The Fatima Prayers
|
- De Montfort's Prayer to Mary
- Hymn: Hail, Holy Queen
|
| Leaflet of the
Month: |
|
|
Cell Plan of Apostolic Action for May
|
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 – First Saturday of the month.
- Pray the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary daily during May.
- Family practice
: Enthrone Mary Immaculate as Queen of your home and family with a
special ceremony of procession and coronation. Each member of the family takes turns
placing fresh flowers and vigil candles on the altar of her Queenship, which should be in
the CENTRAL PLACE OF HONOR IN YOUR HOME, next to the altar of the Sacred Heart of Christ
our King.
- Twenty-four hour Vigil of Reparation on May 13th, the anniversary of Our Lady's first
apparition at Fatima; pray for the strengthening of Catholic family life; the spread of
the Fatima Crusade and the growth of the Fatima Cell Movement; and for the perseverance of
the remnant faithful still struggling to remain faithful to the doctrines and traditions
of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.
- Special observance of the Feasts of Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of the Most Blessed
Sacrament; Mary, Help of Christians; and the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Pope Pius XII decreed that every parish should be annually re-consecrated to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary on May 31st, Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Adorn Our Lady's altar with flowers and candles. Participate in the procession and
coronation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. If this is not possible, then do it in your
own home as a family or with all the families of the Cell together.
- Personal Resolve
: To grow every day during this month in our love, respect, and true
devotion to Our Blessed Mother, by the fervent imitation of her virtues, especially the
virtue of modesty.
- Make visits to hospitals and homes for the elderly. Brighten up their day with spiritual
encouragement; distribute Fatima pledges, brown scapulars, Miraculous Medals, Sacred Heart
badges, and leaflets to those open to receiving and using these spiritual aids.