Brief Introduction
In Chapter 3 from the National Manuel, you will find a more comprehensive explanation on the “Cell Hour of Holiness”. But the simple truth and objective of a World Apostle of Fatima Prayer Cell Meeting (otherwise known as the Cell Hour of Holiness) is that, small groups of Apostolate members in a Parish or Mass Centre come together weekly to pray and study in more detail the Message of Fatima, the mystery of their Catholic Faith and healthy Christian living, for about one hour. This one hour devotion is the basic devotion of a World Apostolate of Fatima Centre and it is more or less compulsory that it is done every week. To ensure variety and flexibility, we are presenting here another way a cell hour of holiness can be done, suitable for adults. An Adult Cell/Centre can rotate weekly between the one printed in Chapter 3 and that printed in this Chapter, for the one in Chapter 3 apart from being used by Cadets, can also be used by adults.
The cell hour of holiness printed in this chapter follows a ten point programme of prayer, based on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, which includes the Rosary and prayers taught by Our Lady and the Angel of Peace at Fatima; it is done separately and independently of that printed in Chapter 3 but for a detailed explanation on the Cell Hour of Holiness, see the introductory part of Chapter 3. Through the Cell Hour of Holiness, members endeavour to grow in holiness by responding to Our Lady of Fatima’s requests for prayer, penance and sacrifice in a spirit of reparation. The Hour should be spent before the Blessed Sacrament. It can
be done in a home. When it is not possible to spend an hour in a church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, members should turn their minds to the nearest tabernacle.
Note: The wonderful thing about the Cell Hour of Holiness is that it can be used by any Catholic who wishes to visit the Blessed Sacrament for one hour.
Prayer for the Cell Hour of Holiness
Opening Prayer
1. Eucharistic Prayer and Angel’s Prayer (once)
2. World Apostolate of Fatima pledge
3. Meditative Rosary
4. Pardon Prayer (thrice)
5. Motivation Report (Prayer Petitions)
6. Invocation to World Apostolate of Fatima Saints and Heroes.
7. Spiritual Reading
8. Examination of conscience for cell members (did I fulfil last week’s resolution?)
9. Resolution for the week
10. Eucharistic Prayer and Angel’s Prayer (twice)
Closing Prayer
Opening Prayer
(a) Prayer to the Holy Spirit
V. Come O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful
All. And enkindle in them the fire of thy love
V. Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created
All. And thou shall renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray
All. O God who by the light of the Holy Spirit didst instruct the heart of the faithful, grant that in the same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(b) Cell Prayer
Dearest Mother, some are willing to pray and make sacrifice for sinners. Indeed, you have as many as there are in this Cell. Increase our number, cause your Apostolate and your Cell to develop a deeper and more spiritual understanding to respond to your appeal for prayer and sacrifice for sinners. By increasing our Cell, spreading and dividing, may the overwhelming force of the sacrifice of Calvary now be applied to the sins of the world, so that we will see the fulfilment of your promise; an era of peace will be conceded to mankind.
Act of Consecration to Our Lady
My Queen and my Mother, to thee do I offer myself without any reserve and to give thee a mark of my devotion, I consecrate to thee during this day, my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole person, since I belong to thee. O my Good Mother, preserve and defend me as thy property and possession. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle, be our defence against the wickedness and the snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou O Prince of the heavenly hosts by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the destruction of souls. Amen.
(Now turn your thoughts to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament)
Spiritual Communion
(Can still be said by those that have received the Blessed Sacrament that day).
My Jesus, I believe you are in The Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.... As if you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you. Never permit me to be separated from you.
(Pause in silence to invite Jesus to come to your soul).
1. Eucharistic Prayer, Angel’s Prayer and Sacrifice Prayer
Most Holy Trinity, I adore you. My God, my God, I love you in the Most Blessed Sacrament, (once).
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which he is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners (once).
Sacrifice Prayer: O my Jesus, it is for love of you, in reparation for the offences committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of poor sinners.
2. Renewal of the World Apostolate of Fatima Pledge
Dear Queen and Mother, who promised at Fatima to convert Russia and bring peace to all mankind; in reparation to your Immaculate Heart, for my sins and for the sins of the whole world, I solemnly promise: to offer up everyday, the sacrifices demanded by my daily duty; to say part of the Rosary daily while meditating on the mysteries; to wear the Scapular of Mount Carmel as a profession of this promise and as an act of consecration to you. I shall renew this promise often especially in moments of temptation.
3. Meditative Rosary
Here five decades of the Rosary should be said and if possible should be accompanied by brief vocal meditation on the mysteries, as given in relevant parts of this Manual {See the one particularly suited for the Cell Hour of Holiness}. Also remember to meditate in your heart as you say the Hail Mary’s. If the Cell Hour is done on a fixed day every week, the Rosary mysteries and meditation used can be rotated; that is this week you use the Joyful Mysteries, the next week, the Luminous Mysteries and so on.
4. Pardon Prayer
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you (3 times).
5. Motivation Report (Prayer Petition)
Each one mentions something to be prayed for now! Eradication of crime? Hatred in neighbourhood or city? Disobedience in the Church? Sacrilegious Communions? Pornography? After each petition, all answer: Holy Mary, pray for us. There can also be a period where one recites his intention privately.
6. Invocation to World Apostolate of Fatima Saints & Heroes
Dearest Mother and Queen, as you changed little Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia overnight into spiritual heroes, willing to face even burning death, so now we beg you to touch our hearts with the light streaming from your Immaculate Heart, so that we too may become your instruments in the world.
St. Joseph, you were sent by Our Lady at Fatima with the infant Jesus to bless the world and bring it peace. Obtain for us your fidelity to grace, your faithfulness to the interior life, your love for Mary and your love for the Child Jesus. Protect this little Cell like you protected the Holy Family. Cause us to grow like a leaven throughout the church.
St. Anthony Mary, your devotion to the Immaculate Heart led to such intimacy with the Blessed Sacrament that Our Lord remained within you from one communion to the other. Inflame us with the same Divine love to preserve us in grace from this meeting until the next.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, you promised to spend heaven doing good upon earth. Use us to accomplish this good that we may share your joys in Heaven.
St. Dominic and St. Simon Stock, help us to value the Rosary and the Scapular.
St. Peter, you are the rock upon which Jesus built His Holy Church upon the earth. Jesus made you the first Pope and gave you the keys of heaven. Since you, St. Peter and the Popes after you have the power to bind and loose, may we and all men always respect the authority which Jesus gave to you, and which our Pope has today. St. Peter, we know that where you are, and your successor, the Pope, there too, is the church. There too, is Jesus Christ. Pray for us, now that another Pope is its visible head. Amen.
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, you were given to our age as a living reminder of the Crucified Christ. Fill us with your impatience for spiritual progress. Obtain for us light to recognise our faults, and grace to correct them. Increase our numbers for the victory of Our Lady of Grace.
Blessed Jacinta and Francisco, you witnessed for Christ by your lives. Intercede for us, that we may know, love and serve God; help us to pray and sacrifice, as you did, for souls.
7. Spiritual Reading
This period is used in reading and discussing previously assigned readings. New cells are encouraged to use for their spiritual reading a book on the Fatima Message, like “There Is Nothing More”, “Fatima in Lucia’s own words”, “Mother of Christ Crusade”, or “More About Fatima”. After they must have finished their study on the Fatima Message from the whole book they chose, they can go over to other books like “The Secret of the Rosary”, excerpts from Soul Magazine. The Messenger of the World Apostolate of Fatima and the Fatima Herald, books about the Scapular and other books that help teach and deepen our faith. In a well advanced cell, The Scriptures and the Imitation of Christ are recommended. The leader should try to make everyone air his views or share something from his understanding of the topic of the day. available time and bearing in mind that the cell hour lasts only about an hour, the spiritual reading and discussion should last for about 20 minutes.
8. Examination of Conscience for Cell Members
Have I been faithful to my World Apostolate of Fatima Pledge, the Rosary, the Scapular and Daily Duty?
How did I practice the Daily Spiritual Programme?
How did I observe the First Saturday Devotion?
Did I offer sacrifices and make reparation for poor sinners this past week?
Have I practiced Eucharistic Reparation?
Did I keep the resolutions made at the last Prayer Cell Meeting?
What have I done to make God and the Blessed Virgin Mary better known and loved?
Have I always given good example?
Have I tried to tell others about the Message of Fatima?
How have I helped others?
Have I truly loved my friends and even my enemies?
What ways have I been a good lay apostle?
What have I done just this last week to increase attendance in my Cell Meetings?
9. Resolutions for the Week
The leader can assign a ‘Special Prayer Intention’, which should, if possible, relate to the lesson of the spiritual trading of the day. Each member then makes in his heart, a personal resolution to practice a particular virtue or overcome a specific fault. The member can decide to give up a legitimate pleasure for that week or give alms or help a particular person for that week. At the next meeting former resolutions can be renewed or if ‘expired’, new ones are then taken. New resolutions can also be taken in addition to old ones.
10. Eucharistic and Angel’s Prayer
To be said twice each. - See prayer as posted above
Closing Prayer
(a) Prayer for the Holy Father’s Intention
One “Our Father”, one “Hail Mary” and one “Glory Be”.
(b) Prayer for the poor souls in Purgatory
Eternal Father we offer thee, the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus in union with all th e masses said throughout the world today for all the souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in our homes and within our families. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
We fly to your Patronage
O Holy Mother of God, despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us from all danger, O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.