FATIMA CELL PROGRAM FOR MARCH
THEMES:
THE 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 lacking confidence, gratitude, devotion and fidelity to grace, the solution is the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
All we need do is imitate St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, St. Konrad and many other Saints, 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 and confirmed 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 self-absorbed Indifferentism, 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 articles: The
First Sunday of Lent and The Ember Days of Lent
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links 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: Reflect on two or three saints from the following:
Ven. Francisco Marto;
St. Casimir;
St. Thomas Aquinas;
St. Frances of Rome;
St. Gregory the Great
(10 min. report and reflection). Reference: See links above.
Second Meeting:
- THE LITURGICAL YEAR: Discuss the articles on
The Second Sunday of Lent and the Feast of St. Joseph
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- THE LIFE OF MARY IN THE GOSPELS: Review Part XII – Mary at the Foot of the Cross
(10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- ST. 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;
Taking St. Joseph as a Special Patron;
Stairs of St. Joseph;
Devotion to St. Joseph;
The Power of St. Joseph.
Third Meeting:
- THE LITURGICAL YEAR: Discuss the articles on the
Third Sunday of Lent and the Feast of the Annunciation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See links above.
- MARY IN DOCTRINE AND DEVOTION: Discuss the history and foundation of the Shrine of Notre-Dame du Cap
in Canada (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. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland;
St. Cyril of Jerusalem;
St. Gabriel the Archangel
(10 min. report and reflection). Reference: See links above.
Fourth Meeting:
- THE TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGY: Review the article on
Laetare Sunday (10 min. report; 5 min. discussion). Reference: See link above.
- MATER DOLOROSA: Review the last Four Sorrows of Our Lady, which are commemorated during the Season of Lent. (10 min. report; 10 min. discussion).
Reference: Excerpts from The Glories of Mary on Our Lady's Sorrows.
- COURT OF OUR HEAVENLY QUEEN: Reflect on two or three saints from the following:
St. Rupert;
St. John Damascene;
St. John Capistrano
(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
* Turn off the tech-distractions and spend that time in spiritual reading and meditation.
* Make an act of compassion for Our Sorrowful Mother and 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/Saturday of the month.
- Promote a truly grateful, devout and penitential observance of Lent in your family, Cell, work, or among friends.
- Special observance of the Feast of Good St. Joseph – daily devotions to St. Joseph during March.
- Special observance of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – renewal of Total Consecration to Jesus
through Mary.
- 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 (as did the Fatima children) – 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.
