Fiat Dove


FIAT SPIRITUALITY
        





Historical
Background

   Founding Group

   Incorporation

   The FIAT Rosary

   The FIAT Prayer

   Celebration of the
   Nativity of Mary

   John Paul II's
   Support of FIAT

Historical Background: The FIAT Prayer

Origin

As introduction to the little Rosary, Cardinal Suenens and Veronica O'Brien composed the following prayer based on what Veronica saw as an integral part of her vision - "Mary cannot be separated from the Holy Spirit and_ this little rosary should be introduced by a prayer to the Holy Spirit":

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Help us to relive,
in union with Mary, the joyful
sorrowful and glorious mysteries of Jesus.
Amen.

Grant that we may be
- inspired by the faith of our Baptism,
- nourished by the Eucharist,
- renewed in the grace of Pentecost.

So as to live,
- in word and deed,
- always and everywhere,
- as faithfful witnesses of Christ and of
- the love of His Divine Heart. Amen. (2a, p. 286)

Intentions: Church . . . World . . . Ours
Our Father . . .
The Joyful Mysteries . . .
The Sorrowful Mysteries . . .
The Glorious Mysteries . . .
Final invocations:
St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family,
    Protect us.
St. Michael the Archangel, from the Powers of Evil,
    Defend us
All the Angels and Saints,
    Pray for us.  Amen.

O Mary, teach us to say YES to the Lord,
    O Mary, every moment of our lives.
O Mary, teach us to say THANKS to the Lord,
    O Mary, every moment of our lives. (2c, p. 2, 6) The Meaning of the FIAT Prayer

Cardinal Suenens expressed the meaning of the FIAT prayer in these words: 1) "Most Holy Spirit . . .

"The picture of the Annunciation embodies for us the "FIAT" - the "YES" of Mary - to the proposal made to her by the Angel Gabriel, on behalf of the Holy Trinity, to become the Mother of Our Savior.

"The Holy Spirit - sent by the Father and the Son - 'overshadows Mary' for all ages to come. Heaven and earth are then joined in alliance 'in the Holy Spirit and in Mary'.

"It is appropriate, therefore, that our prayer starts with an invocation to the Holy Spirit.

- He alone, according to the Scripture, can reveal to us 'our Father in Heaven' and enable us to say the name of 'Jesus' with its full meaning.

- He alone can reveal to us the plan of God for the salvation of mankind, a plan which remains always closely bound to Mary, who is His chosen instrument to bring Christ to the world.

"Humbly we ask the Holy Spirit to unite us with Mary so that with her, like her and in her, we can live again the life of Jesus, in all its joys, its suffering, its glory, so that we may become 'one with Him', Christianised once again.
2)"To live in the grace of the sacraments

"Let us concentrate on the three Sacraments of Christian initiation:

- First we ask to be inspired with the faith of our Baptism, which implants the life of Jesus in us and which allows every Christian to say with St. Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me".

- We ask to be nourished by the Eucharist, as often as possible, because every time we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we are immersed in Him and become more deeply part of Him; enabling us to radiate His love to others with greater intensity.

- We ask to be renewed in the grace of Confirmation; to revitalize and relive the 'baptism of the Spirit' as experienced, at Pentecost, in the Cenacle, by the disciples united in prayer with Mary, and which transformed them, from the timid and fearful people they were, into faithful and courageous Apostles of the risen Christ.
3) "To live as faithful witnesses of Christ

"We ask for the grace to 'put prayer into action', to transmit the Good News we have received, so that for others, it will be a source of light, peace and hope.

"John Paul II invites us in these words, 'Each one of you must make known to his neighbour, in his home, in school, in cultural life and in the work-place, that Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.'"

"Faithfully, we must witness to Him in words and also in devoted service to others, in response to their material, moral and spiritual needs.

"Thus entering into the plan of God, united with Mary and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we share her ever active spiritual motherhood.

"We should always bear in mind the dictum: 'A Christian is a man to whom Jesus Christ had enthrusted other men.' And we know, that it is on how we love our fellow men that we will be judged.

"The faith of the Christian of tomorrow depends largely on the formation in the heart of each parish, of little communities of the faithful, loyally united with their priests, sharing in teams, groups or evangelical cells, their spiritual and apostolic life.
4) "To live in the communion of the Church in heaven

"'The Yes of Mary is the first word of the Church.' (H. Rahner). This first FIAT culminates in the glory of the Assumption.

"To live in the Church, is also to live in communion with the Angels and Saints in Heaven which form part of the Church triumphant.

"Our 'FIAT prayer' ends by invoking St. Joseph, protector of the Holy Family and the universal Church.

"It also asks St. Michael the Archangel, the chief of all the heavenly hosts, to lead, with us and for us, the fight of the Church militant, in a world overshadowed by the darkness of sin and the Powers of Evil.

"May our personal "FIAT" be united with that of Mary, for the greater joy and the glory of the Holy Trinity, now and forever.

O Mary, teach us how to say YES to the Lord,
O Mary, every moment of our life.
O Mary, teach us to say THANKS to the Lord,
O Mary, every moment of our life." (2c, p. 3-6)