FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR MARCH
THEMES:
THE SACRED PASSION OF OUR DIVINE LORD. This month of the Passion imposes on all of us the solemn obligation of seriously reflecting 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 meditation for 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
meditation in 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 true contrition, confidence, gratitude, devotion, fidelity to grace, or zeal and strength in the battle for holiness, 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. Bonaventure, St. Konrad of Parzham, and other holy souls who lived the words: "The Cross is my book." O 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 and reaffirmed by several Popes as the
Patron of the Universal Church, which is now in mortal combat with the countless enemies of Christ. We turn to St. Joseph as we witness the all but universal
spread of godless Materialism, proud Rationalism, and slothful Indifferentism. He is our powerful Patron in the battle against these global
terrors, these insidious foes, these condemned heresies. May he protect the Universal Church and Her faithful children from diabolical harm to body or 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 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 the Sacrifice and Sufferings of Her Divine Son for our Redemption
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 130.
- COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Discuss the life of St. Gregory the Great
(10 min. report and reflection). Reference: See link above.
Second Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the article on Passion Sunday and
Palm Sunday
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH: Discuss the Liturgical Feast of St. Joseph
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: see link above.
- PASSIONTIDE AND HOLY WEEK: Review the article on Passiontide and Holy Week
(10 min. report and reflection). Reference: See link above.
Third Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the articles on Holy Thursday and
The Good Friday Veneration of the Cross (10 min. report, 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- THE LITTLE FLOWER : Discuss the second in the series on St. Therese of Lisieux – Our Guide in Sorrow
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- THE EASTER VIGIL: Review the article on The Easter Vigil (10 min. report and reflection).
Reference: See link above.
Fourth Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the articles
Ancient Customs of Easter Sunday, Ancient Customs of the Easter Octave
(10 min. report, 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Review 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; 5 min. discussion).
Reference: See link above.
- COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Reflect on two or three saints from the following:
St. Heribert of Cologne;
St. Cyril of Jerusalem;
St. Benedict;
St. John Damascene;
St. John Capistrano;
St. Gabriel the Archangel (10 min. report and reflection).
Reference: See links above.
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. We should ask
ourselves, what more can we do to prove our gratitude for all that our Suffering Savior has done for us?
- 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 (transferred this year to April 4).
- 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 strive
to live every moment in union with Jesus Crucified, as did the Fatima children.
- 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.