The Program

The Spiritual Orientation

Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Peregrinatio - Going with Mary on the Pilgrimage of Faith

The pilgrims arrive in Fatima. They have travelled so that, together with Mary, the Mother of Life, they will travel the pilgrims' path of faith.

Schedule:
A special point in the program will be conscientiously entering into a spirit of prayer and sacrifice. Upon arrival, pilgrims should, through the evening recitation of the Holy Rosary and candlelight procession, try to enter into the spirit of these holy grounds. Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Penance/Confession are part of the daily congress program.

Thursday, October 5, 2006
Coenaculum - Praying with Mary for Power from Above

Mary is the great teacher of prayer. The Apostles and Mary gathered in the Upper Room to pray together (Acts 1: 14). We, the present-day followers of Christ, would like to place our hands into Mary's hands, and like little children (Psalm 131: 2), let Her lead us to Jesus - to Him, who is Life. The gift of life is attacked today more than ever. People insult, deprecate, and kill. We want to ask Jesus' forgiveness and with childlike fear, worship Him with Mary: "My God, I believe in You, I adore You. I hope in You and I love You" (Prayer taught by the Angel in Fatima).

Schedule:
The talks in the morning and in the early afternoon will deal with the Catholic teaching on life issues. Still in the afternoon, there will be talks focussing on two exemplary characters of modern times (Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Gianna Beretta Molla) in order to realize how this saints have led their lives fulfilling the Church's commission to proclaim the Gospel of Life. Fr. Sigl shows, as he speaks to us of the sufferings of Padre Pio, that "in the Body of Christ, which is ceaselessly born of the Cross of the Redeemer, it is precisely suffering permeated by the spirit of Christ's sacrifice that is the irreplaceable mediator and author of the good things which are indispensable for the world's salvation" (Salvifici doloris, 27). Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, mother and physician, lived out her commitment for life in the midst of the world.

First Friday October 6, 2006
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ecce Agnus Dei qui tollit peccata mundi - Quenching Jesus' Thirst with Mary

Friday, the Passion day. "It is finished". Sins and guilt are destroyed on the Cross. We stand with Mary at the foot of the Cross and look upon the sacrificial Lamb, who has given His Life for the world. The Lord dies for us, for our sins, for our guilt. We come to the Crucified and bring Him all the sins against life, since only He can forgive us; only He can save us. We ask Him to take away the sins of the world. "O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need" (Prayer taught by Our Lady in Fatima).

Schedule:
Today we will try to keep in mind the perspective of the Cross and its redemptive power. This leads to the question: What does the Cross mean for us today? How can we take part in the redemptive power of the Cross today? Fr. Leo Maasburg will show us how Bl. Mother Teresa's commitment to the "least of our brothers" was her concrete response to Jesus' thirst on the Cross. Through his sharing about his work in front of abortion centers, Msgr. Reilly shows us "modern-day Calvary". The theme for the afternoon is: In the Cross is our salvation and healing. After the Way of the Cross in Valinhos-Aljustrel (the place where the angel appeared to the children and taught them the Fatima prayer), Holy Mass will be celebrated in the "Chapel of Saint Stephen" on the Calvary. During the Sacrifice of the Mass, we will have a symbolic handing-over ceremony whereby the representatives of individual nations will offer up the guilt and sins of their respective nations (especially sins which have offend, hurt, dishonour or killed life) and bring them to the Cross, where through God's action they can be transformed. The prayers of the Way of the Cross are created by the Sisters of Life; their ministry and program for Post Abortion Healing stems from the Divine Mercy flowing from the Crucified Christ.

Saturday, October 7, 2006: Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and First Saturday Devotion in Reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ecce mater tua (behold your Mother) - Doing what He tells us with Mary

Mary, the Queen of the Holy Rosary, gives us the spiritual means, with which we can win the battle. She, who tramples the head of the serpent (Gen. 3: 15), and as Mediatrix of all Graces, gives us the Rosary and the Consecration to Her Immaculate Heart. "Pray the Rosary daily". My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way which leads you to God" (Our Lady of Fatima at the Apparition of May 13 and June 13, 1917).

Schedule:
In the message of July 13, 1917, Mary says: "In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph". Today will be dedicated to deepen this mystery from different perspectives, presented by Bishop Antonio Marto, Fr. Bernhard, Dr. Thereza Ameal and the Vicepostulator of the Canonization process of Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto. In the spirit of Fatima (conversion, reparation, and restitution) and in response to the request of our Holy Father, all intentions regarding the protection of life will be entrusted to Mary, "Mother of Life" (EV 104), during Mass in the morning at the Shrine of Fatima. The representatives of individual nations will bring their respective requests to the altar. The consecration documents will later be placed in the Apparition chapel by the image of Mary.

Sunday, October 8, 2006
Worldwide Prayer Day for the Sanctity of Life - Initiative of the World Apostolate of Fatima: "One day, One Billion Prayers" Corpus Christi - Church with Mary - Being the Body of Christ, bringing Life to the World

Having been commissioned to go forth, we go along the way, knowing: "Christ is the Head of the Body, the Body is the Church" (Col 1:18). We want to be witnesses for life. Pope John Paul II. encouraged us: "Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer […] so that the power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life. (Evangelium vitae, 100) Pope Benedict XVI teaches us: "Faith shows us the God who gave His Son for us, and gives us the overwhelming certainty, that it is true: God is Love" (Deus caritas est, 39). And Mary calls to us to "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:5).

Schedule:
"Celebrate Life", "Celebrate the Gospel of Life" (EV 83) - This motto points to Sunday, the day of resurrection. On this Sunday, through the initiative of the World Apostolate of Fatima, there will be one billion prayers offered worldwide for the protection of life. The family as nucleus and sanctuary of life stands in the centre of the theme of this congress that is dedicated to the Apparitions of October 13, 1917, in which the Holy Family appeared. Bishop Serafim will present a reflection on this topic, followed by another talk by Msgr. Feytor Pinto and Mrs. Isilda Pegado, dealing with the connection between life issues and family issues.

To close this special weekend, all are invited to a special celebratory lunch, where representatives of various Pro-life groups have the opportunity to introduce their organizations. Testimonies of Abortion Survivors.

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