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1) “Lucia Speaks” with its accompanying commentary, Reflection & Resolution
2) ”The Message of Fatima for Today” by Father Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R.
3) “CALLS from The Message of Fatima” by Sr. Lucia
4) Any Approved Fatima Materials
Lucia Speaks is an account of the three apparitions of the Angel of Peace; the six apparitions of Our Lady; an excerpt from “Jacinta, the Little Flower of Fatima” by Father Oliveira; the apparitions to Lucia which concerned the Communions of Reparation on First Saturdays which occurred on December 10, 1925, February 15, 1926 and May 29-30, 1930; and the Last Vision which occurred on June 13, 1929, during which the request for the consecration of Russia was made.
The purpose of the structured commentary is to aid participants in meditation on and discussion about one or more of the many facets or lessons of the message contained in each apparition. One apparition per month is generally recommended whether the gathering is weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. It will not usually be difficult for weekly or bi-weekly gatherings to devote an entire month to the same apparition due to the multiplicity of topics or lessons which can be drawn from a single apparition.
Members of Prayer Cells which gather on a monthly basis frequently repeat this commentary more than once before moving to level two for the sake of garnering progressively deeper insight into each of the apparitions and working toward the application of the lessons learned in their individual lives.
The Reflection & Resolution period is designed to suggest ways for members to begin living the Message of Fatima in their individual families. The Resolution is brief and is repeated at the end of the gathering to help in forming the intention for the next gathering and then reviewed during the examination at the that next gathering. An apostolic resolution should also be suggested by the leader.
At present there is no commentary because the book is new and is packed with meat to devour. The members of the Prayer Cell can decide amongst themselves how much of the book to read before each gathering. There should be quiet time for private reflection after discussion of the content of the portion of the book read during which each member contemplates how their own individual lives measure up to Our Lady’s expectations. There should also be resolutions just as there were at level one.
“…The publication of Lucia’s book, the fruit of prolonged meditation, and bearing the date of 25th March, 1997, provides what we might call her authorized explanation of the whole of the Fatima message.” [Taken from the Preface of CALLS.]
“The work is, in effect, a long letter, written entirely by Sister Lucia and addressed by her to all those who have written to her concerning their doubts, questions, and difficulties, and their desire for greater fidelity in living up to what was asked for from Heaven in the Cova da Iria.” [Taken from Preliminary Note to CALLS.]
In this book Sister Lucia “…offers her own experience of development in her understanding of the various requests contained in the Message which she received. … she states categorically about herself: ‘Only many years later was I able to read the Holy Bible, and only then did I discover the most intimate meaning of the Message.’” [Taken from Preliminary Note to CALLS.]
In her introduction Sister Lucia explains that the book “…is not an interpretation of the Message; this pertains to God’s Church. Neither is it an historical account of the Apparitions….” She goes on to say “So it is with my eyes fixed on the Way of Truth that I shall Endeavour to explain the Message to you exactly as God entrusted it to me, and gave me to understand what it means and to which souls it is addressed.”
The 22 Calls, 11 chapters on the Commandments and 4 chapters devoted to the Most Holy Rosary provide enough material for 2-3 years of study and contemplation, depending on the frequency of the Prayer Cell’s gatherings. As in the case of Father Apostoli’s book, there is no study guide. Rather, The members of the Prayer Cell can decide amongst themselves how much of the book to read before each gathering. There should be quiet time for private reflection after discussion of the content of the portion of the book read during which each member contemplates how their own individual lives measure up to Our Lady’s expectations. There should also be resolutions just as there were at level one.
The leader, in consultation with the Prayer Cell members, is free to choose from a variety of materials and books that are available from the World Apostolate of Fatima U.S.A. There are materials and books on Fatima sufficient to last more than a lifetime of study and reflection. The format remains the same as in all previous levels. |
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