FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR DECEMBER

THEMES:

ADVENT. The Liturgical Year opens with the holy Season of Advent. This period of preparation for the great solemnity celebrating the coming of the Son of God among men represents the long centuries of eager waiting which preceded the appearance of our Redeemer. It is a time of hope, full of the longings and aspirations of the Prophets who foretold the promised Messiah. But in particular Advent is the season of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the new Ark of the Covenant, who awaits the fulfillment, in Her own sacred Person, of the message brought by the Archangel Gabriel. Holy Mother Church wishes us to be filled with the spirit of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God, and those interior dispositions in which the Just among the Chosen People lived before the coming of the Messiah. We shall thus prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ into our souls by faith and Divine charity, as well as for His final Coming, on the Day of Judgment. In union with the Prophets, and especially in union with Our Lady, the Tabernacle of the Most High, we should yield ourselves up to a joyful and fervent preparation of our hearts for Him Who is to come. As St. John the Baptist preached a gospel of repentance to "prepare the way of the Lord," let our hearts be truly humbled, meek and contrite, that the graces of our Savior's Nativity may be brought to us in abundance, and Jesus may be truly born anew in our hearts.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a lowly Aztec Indian, Juan Diego, in Mexico in 1531. As a proof of Her identity, she caused Her image to miraculously appear on the poor Indian's cloak, or tilma. Although executed on poor material that should have perished after 20 to 30 years, Her beautiful image remains intact to this very day. More important than the picture, however, is the manifestation which Our Lady gave to us all of Her loving and maternal heart through Her words to Juan Diego: "I urgently desire a temple to be built here... to bear witness to My love and compassion, my assistance, and protection. For I am a merciful Mother to all who love Me and trust Me and invoke My help. I will hear their weepings and supplications that I may give them consolation and relief... Am I not here, who am your Mother?" Our own beloved country, America, is dedicated to Our Lady under the glorious title of Her Immaculate Conception, and when She appeared on this continent, the symbols of Her Immaculate Conception were included in the apparition. Our Lady of Guadalupe, "She who crushes the head of the serpent," symbolizes Her triumph over Satan's seduction of Eve and the resultant original sin, Her triumph over the serpent-god of the pagan Indians, and the ultimate triumph of Her Immaculate Heart over the legions of Hell and the forces of Anti-Christ. "Let us gather round Her altar, let us raise Her banner high." Let us implore the Immaculate Virgin of Guadalupe to protect our homes, our families, and our country, against the raging tide of Protestantism, Liberalism, Materialism and moral decay, which are all too rapidly suffocating the light of faith in so many souls and the fire of charity in men's hearts.

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 * Hymn to Our Lady

* Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

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.

First Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the article on The Feast of the Immaculate Conception 10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
2. MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – discuss this wonderful prerogative of our Immaculate Queen, especially the power which She thus exercises over Satan and the legions of Hell as the "Woman who crushes the head of the Serpent;" discuss the solemn definition of the dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854, and the affirmation given by Our Lady at Lourdes to St. Bernadette. Review the title Queen Conceived without Original Sin. Also ‒ Our Lady of Guadalupe (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: The Glories of Mary; excerpt from "Ineffabilis Deus" of Pope Pius IX, defining the Immaculate Conception; see links above; additional articles on Our Lady of Guadalupe: Salve Maria Regina No. 128 and Cause of Our Joy.
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. Our Divine Master commands us all, "Be ye therefore perfect..." 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. Discuss 2 or 3 of the following: St. Nicholas; St. Ambrose; St. Damasus I. (10 min. report and discussion). Reference: See links above.

Second Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the articles on The Ember Days of December and The Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
2. CELEBRATED SANCTUARIES OF THE MADONNA: Review Part IV – The Holy House of Loreto. (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: see link above.
3. THE COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Choose two or three of the following: St. Eusebius; Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle; St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. (10 min. report and discussion). Reference: See links above.

Third Meeting:

1. THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: In preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, review the articles: The Great Antiphons of Advent and The Vigil of the Nativity. (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
2. EXPECTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: Review the proper spiritual preparation of a true Christian for the Feast of the Nativity – in union with Mary (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: Salve Maria Regina No. 117; Salve Maria Regina No. 135; The Glories of Mary and The Incarnation, Birth and Infancy of Our Lord Jesus Christ by St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori.
3. THE COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Discuss the life, virtues and Feast of St. Thomas Becket and the Fifth Day of the Christmas Octave – December 29. (10 min. report and discussion). Reference: See link above.

Fourth Meeting:

If a Fourth Meeting is conducted this Month, the topics for study and discussion may consist of any of the remaining articles on Christmastide and the Christmas Octave: The History of the 40 Days of Christmas; The Mystery of Christmas; Practice During Christmas—Our Offerings to the Christ Child and Practice During Christmas—Our Spiritual Birth with Christ; Liturgy of Christmas – First Vespers; Liturgy of Christmas – Matins; Midnight Mass and Lauds; Second Mass of Christmas; Third Mass of Christmas and Second Vespers; Feast of St. Stephen; Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist; Feast of the Holy Innocents; Feast of the Circumcision; Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

CLOSING PRAYERS: Advent Psalms and Prayers
Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel or O Come Divine Messias
The Fatima Prayers

LEAFLETS OF THE MONTH: Peace be to You; And His Own Received Him Not

CELL PLAN OF APOSTOLIC ACTION FOR DECEMBER

* Make an act of love and reparation to your Blessed Mother Mary in Her Expectation at every hour, especially by recitation of the prayer,
"Hail and blessed be the hour..." (below).

* To promote the Message of Fatima * Sanctification of self, family, neighbor

* Conversion of sinners, salvation of souls * Adoration, reparation, total consecration

• Vigil of reparation on First Friday/Saturday.
• Personal resolve to honor Our Lady by daily meditating on Her joyful Expectation and Her words to us at Guadalupe.
• Family practice: Daily observance of family Advent customs, such as lighting the Advent Wreath, recitation of Advent Psalms and Prayers; follow your sacrifice program for the Season of Advent; the children should place straw in the manger for each of their sacrifices, to symbolize making their hearts a welcome place for the Baby Jesus.
• Put up a literature rack (or use existing ones) in airports, hospitals, etc. (keep them stocked!); a special effort this month to distribute leaflets to promote the message of Our Lady of Fatima and the true Catholic Faith.
• Make visits to hospitals and homes for the elderly. Brighten their day with spiritual encouragement and distribute Fatima pledges, Green and Brown Scapulars, Miraculous Medals, and leaflets to those open to receiving these spiritual aids. Explain to them the great value of offering their sufferings for the missions, the Religious and the work of the Fatima Crusade, for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls.
• Special observance of the Feasts of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Loreto, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• Celebrate in a worthy manner the glorious Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: gathering of the firs and greens on the several days leading up to Christmas Eve; decoration and blessing of the Christmas Tree—which is a symbol of Christ, the Light of the World—and Christmas carols to mark the Birthday of Our Divine Infant King.

"HAIL AND BLESSED BE THE HOUR AND THE MOMENT IN WHICH THE SON OF GOD WAS BORN OF THE MOST PURE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, AT MIDNIGHT, IN BETHLEHEM, IN THE PIERCING COLD. IN THAT HOUR VOUCHSAFE, O MY GOD, TO HEAR MY PRAYER AND GRANT MY PETITIONS, THROUGH THE MERITS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN."