FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR MARCH
THEMES:
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 in need of confidence, gratitude, devotion and fidelity to grace, the solution is the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
All we need do is imitate the simple but profound devotion and love of 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. He is the perfect model
for Fatima apostles determined to overcome the cancerous spirit of selfishness by the faithful and selfless fulfillment of daily duty.
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 all but universal
spread of godless Materialism, proud rationalism, and indifferentism. 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.
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 * Lenten Hymn
* Prayer to Our Sorrowful Mother
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 or Unless Ye Do Penance.
First Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the article on
Laetare Sunday (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion).
Reference: See link above.
- THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Discuss the article –
Life of Mary in the Gospels – Part III: Mary the Mother of God
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Discuss the life and virtues of St. Casimir
(10 min. report and discussion). Reference: See link above.
Second Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Discuss the article on Passion Sunday
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- THE LA SALETTE CONTROVERSY: Read through Part VI of the Series;
discuss the final paragraphs taken from Melanie's letters to Abbé Bliard
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: : Reflect on two or three Saints from the following:
St. Thomas Aquinas; St. Frances of Rome;
St. Gregory the Great; St. Clement Maria Hofbauer; St. Heribert of Cologne;
(10 min. report and reflection).
Reference: See links above.
Third Meeting:
- THE LITURGICAL YEAR: Review the article on Passiontide and Holy Week
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- SAINT 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 any of the articles on St. Joseph
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion).
Reference: St. Joseph is the Special Patron of the Dying and
Taking St. Jospeh as a Special Patron, by Fr. Patrignani;
St. Joseph's Stairs;
Salve Maria Regina No. 120;
Salve Maria Regina No. 142.
- COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Reflect on two or three saints from the following:
St. Cyril of Jerusalem;
St. Benedict; St. Gabriel the Archangel;
St. John Damascene;
St. John Capistrano (10 min. report and reflection).
Reference: See links above.
Fourth Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the articles Palm Sunday,
Holy Thursday and
The Good Friday Veneration of the Cross (10 min. report, 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Review the articles on Our Sorrowful Mother as
Co-Redemptrix and Queen of Martyrs
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- MATER DOLOROSA: In light of Holy Week, review the last four Sorrows of Our Lady (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion).
Reference: Excerpts from The Glories of Mary on Our Lady's Sorrows.
CLOSING PRAYERS: Prayer to Our Lord on the Cross ...
Litany of St. Joseph ...
The Fatima Prayers ... Hymn to St. Joseph
LEAFLETS OF THE MONTH: New Hope ...
Unless Ye Do Penance
CELL PLAN OF APOSTOLIC ACTION FOR MARCH
* Make an act of compassion for Our Sorrowful Mother at every hour.
* 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 grateful, devout 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; daily as did the Fatima children) strive
to live every moment in union with Jesus Crucified.
- Make the Via Crucis & Via Matris Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross & the Way of Our Sorrowful Mother) as a Cell (or family) weekly (or more often) during Lent.
- Make visits to hospitals and homes for the elderly. Inspire them with a love of the Cross; 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 to console Our Lord and
compassionate Our Lady, and for the missions of the
Religious and the work of the Fatima Crusade, for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls.