FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR MAY

 THEME – DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY:

v      Study of her life, her apparitions, and her integral role in the Divine Plan for the Redemption and Salvation of mankind.

v      Fervent and zealous participation of all Fatima Crusaders in special daily devotions in her honor.

v      Devout participation in May processions honoring Our Lady, especially on the Feast of her Queenship.

v      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:

 1.       WHERE WE GOT THE BIBLE: Discuss Chapter 15 – “The Catholic’s Bible (Douay)” (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Where We Got the Bible by Rt. Rev. Henry G. Graham.

 2.       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".

 3.       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. Athanasius; St. Monica; Pope St. Pius V; St. John before the Latin Gate; St. Michael the Archangel; St. Achatius; St. Gregory Nazianzen; Ss. Phillip & James.  (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. Gregory Nazianzen in Salve Maria Regina No. 143. 

Second Meeting:

1.       THE INCREDIBLE CATHOLIC MASS: Discuss pgs. 336-344 – Chapter 23: The Manner and Measure in which the Priest and the Angels Pray for those who are Present at Holy Mass (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: The Incredible Catholic Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem.

 2.       OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT: Discuss devotion to Mary under this title.  How does Our Lady give us an example of devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament?  (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion.)  Reference: Cover article in Salve Maria Regina No. 143.

 3.       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. Boniface; St. John Baptist de la Salle; St. Simon Stock; St. Andrew Bobola; 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; excerpt from Pope Pius XII’s Encyclical on St. Andrew Bobola. 

Third Meeting:

 1.       THE SACRED LITURGY: Discuss the importance and a true Catholic observance of the Rogation Days (May 22-24), the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord (May 25), and the Feast of Mary, Queen of the Apostles (May 27). (15 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Liturgical Booklet – The Rogation Days; article – "The Ascension of Our Divine Lord"; Liturgical Booklet – May Devotions.

 2.       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); 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.

3.       MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Discuss the importance of the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, celebrated on May 24 (10 min. report & discussion.)  Reference: Cover article from Salve Maria Regina No. 111; Liturgical Booklet – May Devotions. 

Fourth Meeting:

 1.       THE INCREDIBLE CATHOLIC MASS: Discuss pgs. 344-349 of Chapter 23: Whether All Masses are of Equal Value; How the Angels Pray for us during the Time of Holy Mass (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: The Incredible Catholic Mass by Fr. Martin von Cochem.

 2.       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 (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).  Reference: Parts 34-53 of Ad Cæli Reginam of Pope Pius XII.

 3.       VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS – NOVENA OF PENTECOST: Discuss the importance of this Novena, as well as the means of acquiring the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Ghost (15 min. report and discussion).  Reference: Liturgical booklet – Novena to the Holy Ghost.

 

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:

·      The Fatima Pledge 

 

·      Ad Cæli Reginam

 

 

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

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

 v      Pray the Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary daily during May.

 v      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.

 v      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.

 v      Special observance of the Feasts of Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Mary, Help of Christians, Mary, Queen of Apostles, and the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 v      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 as a family or with all the families of the Cell together.

 v      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.

 v      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.