FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR SEPTEMBER
THEME:
OUR MOTHER OF SORROWS. In her final apparition, Our Lady of Fatima appeared as Our Mother of Sorrows,
to emphasize the effect the sins of mankind have upon Her most tender and Immaculate Heart. This apparition is also emblematic
of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, as well as the life-long sorrows, which, like seven swords, pierced Her tender and
loving Heart through and through. Our Divine Lord told Lucia, "Have compassion upon the Heart of your Most Holy Mother,
covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce It at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them."
(Feast of the Seven Dolors of Mary—Sept. 15th; The Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary—Sept. 1st)
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 * Hymn: At the Cross Her Station Keeping
* Prayer of Pope Leo XIII to St. Joseph to be recited after the Rosary
MEDITATION: * from "My Imitation of Christ"; or "The Path of Mary"
STUDY & DISCUSS: * Officer's reports; Cell Memos; reading of the Salve Maria Regina Bulletin.
First Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the importance and history of the Liturgical Feasts of the Nativity of Mary (September 8) and the Holy Name of Mary (September 12) (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 153; Salve Maria Regina No. 149.
- MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Review the devotional aspect of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Shrine of Notre Dame de Puy (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 115; The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori; Salve Maria Regina No. 145.
- COURT OF THE QUEEN: Meditating upon the lives of the saints inspires us to a more perfect living of our consecration to our Heavenly Queen. Discuss two or three of the following: St. Stephen, King of Hungary; St. Rose of Viterbo; St. Lawrence Justinian; St. Hadrian, Martyr; Ss. Cornelius & Cyprian; Stigmata of St. Francis (10 min. report & reflection; briefly discuss application). Reference: Martyrology; article on St. Stephen in Salve Maria Regina No. 157; article on St. Rose of Viterbo in Salve Maria Regina No. 145; article on St. Hadrian in Salve Maria Regina No. 153; article on Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian in Salve Maria Regina No. 157.
Second Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the importance and history of the Feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) and the Seven Sorrows of Mary (September 15) (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 161; Salve Maria Regina No. 153.
- MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: : Review the devotional aspect of the Holy Name of Mary; as well as the Shrine of Our Lady of Einsiedeln (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 133; article "Holy Mary" in The Reign of Mary No. 45; Salve Maria Regina No. 99.
- THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY: Review the devotion to the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (see this month's theme) (10 min. report and reflection). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 92; Salve Maria Regina No. 110; Salve Maria Regina No. 120; The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori.
Third Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Discuss the importance and history of the the Ember Days of September; discuss the Liturgical Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 149; Salve Maria Regina No. 169.
- THE LA SALETTE CONTROVERSY: Read through Part V of the series; discuss the section "France During the Revolutionary Period" (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 169.
- COURT OF THE QUEEN: Discuss the article on St. Thomas of Villanova, as well as St. Maurice and the Theban Legion; optional – St. Lambert or St. Eustachius, the Holy Helper (10 min. report & reflection; briefly discuss application). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 165; The Fourteen Holy Helpers; article on St. Lambert in Salve Maria Regina No. 145.
Fourth Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the Liturgy for the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 149.
- FATIMA AND YOUTH: Words of the Angel of Portugal to the Fatima children: "What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal!" Discuss the diabolical forces which assault today's youth on every side, threatening to pervert them morally and destroy them spiritually – materialism, secularism, relativism, state-sponsored "correct thinking", sex education, moral depravity, immodesty, permissiveness, heresy; decay of religion, family, and society; over-emphasis on secular education and social prestige, etc.; the Church's true teaching on the guidance of Christian youth; example of the Fatima children; the urgent necessity of Fatima Youth Cells for all Catholic children and teenagers to safeguard their Faith, preserve their virtue and save their immortal souls (10 min. report, 5 min. discussion). Reference: Encyclical on Christian Education of Youth by Pope Pius XI.
- COURT OF THE QUEEN: Discuss two or three of the following: the North American Martyrs; St. Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia; St. Michael the Archangel; St. Jerome (10 min. report & reflection; briefly discuss application). Reference: The North American Martyrs, St. Jean de Brebeuf and St. Rene Goupil; article on St. Wenceslaus in Salve Maria Regina No. 161; article on St. Jerome in Salve Maria Regina No. 153.
CLOSING PRAYERS:
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
Commemoration of the Stigmata of St. Francis
The Fatima Prayers
Hymn: Mary, How Sweetly Falls that Name
LEAFLET OF THE MONTH: Children, Your Mother is Calling
CELL PLAN OF APOSTOLIC ACTION FOR SEPTEMBER
* Make an act of love and reparation to Our Immaculate Queen 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 – First Saturday of the month.
- Vigil of Reparation on September 13th; pray for the conversion of our youth, the strengthening of Catholic family life, and the spread of the message of Fatima and the true Catholic Faith.
- Make weekly visits to the hospitals and homes for the elderly. Brighten their day with spiritual encouragement and give it purpose by explaining the value of suffering. Distribute Fatima pledges, Brown Scapulars, Miraculous Medals, and leaflets to those open to receiving and properly using these spiritual aids.
- Special observance of the Feasts of the Holy Ghost, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Name of Mary, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Seven Dolors of Mary, and the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Personal Resolve: to make specific and frequent acts of reparation to Our Mother of Sorrows this month.
- Offer special prayers and sacrifices for an increase of many zealous and devout priestly vocations, and for the sustenance and perseverance of all true Catholic Priests and especially our Most Reverend Bishops.
- Distribute modesty leaflets; place modesty posters in churches and public places; insist on strict Marylike modesty in your home and family. (Sadly so many, many souls are destroyed while still in the home because of laxity in this area.)