WHAT IS FIAT SPIRITUALITY?

Fiat Spirituality is a full and openhearted response to God's plan for the redemption of mankind. Rooted in Mary's "Fiat" and the Holy Spirit's power, it emphasizes evangelization as its primary goal, and works through a network of small prayer groups which encourage committed individuals to take apostolic initiatives in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is essentially a spirituality born out of a deep awareness of the unity between the Holy Spirit and Mary. The word FIAT itself is from the Latin, literally meaning "Be it done;" it is the 'yes'' of Mary at the Annunciation - "Be it done unto me according to Thy word." When that humble surrender was made the Holy Spirit filled Mary with Divine Life. So it is with us, as we imitate Mary's humility, we too become totally open to God's plan for our life. Jesus was born of that surrender, and the world is saved by it. As we participate in his life everyday we learn to hold Mary and the Holy Spirit close to our hearts. This is the secret of Pentecost.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF FIAT?

To be at the service of Christ and the Catholic Church in transforming passive Christians into active Christians in a well balanced life: interiorly, through liturgical and sacramental participation and exteriorly, through evangelization or apostolic actions. We call them FIAT INITIATIVES. We should pray everyday for Jesus to carry out His great designs in us and through us.

WHAT IS NEEDED?

There are many who follow Jesus, but few who become true disciples opening themselves totally as Mary did to follow the Divine plan for the salvation of the whole world. Even among believers there is a lack of initiative in carrying out God's plan. In some there is also a cynicism and a skepticism that stifles all resolve and action to advance God's kingdom. When serious problems arise few have the moral courage to tackle them and fewer still have the will to persevere in the work of redemption.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Basically the problem is spiritual individualism. If you are alone in your spiritual life you are ineffective. God's plan was revealed to us through Jesus Christ, and the four words of Jesus are: Love, Pray, Go, Teach. We all need to realize our responsibilities to the community more fully. We know about love and prayer, but we are weak in our zeal to go forth and make God's kingdom known. Religious faith must be brought to bear on all aspects of life: social, cultural, educational, recreational. The mediocre Catholic working alone will achieve very little in the way of idealism and self-sacrifice. The best intentions and the best efforts of isolated individuals will fail to achieve substantial, lasting effects.

HOW THEN CAN WE INCULCATE THIS SPIRIT OF SELF-SACRIFICE AND TRUE IDEALISM?

Fiat Spirituality is a powerful formula for achieving that animating principle so desperately needed in today's world. It rests on the Christian doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ in all its details which includes the Divine Maternity of Mary and the sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit, the very well-spring of Christ's life. Once understood and implemented this doctrine will provide the motivating power we need in our work as evangelizers. We must see every person, in every place as part of Christ's body or potentially part of it. FIAT SPIRITUALITY provides a vision and spiritual dynamism which will create a world force-harnessed to lift up the whole world to Christ.

WHAT EXACTLY IS MEANT BY EVANGELIZATION

Evangelization is spreading the gospel through person to person contact. Catholics are learning to take the initiative more in bringing Christ's plan of salvation to the world. We have to translate our prayers into action. This does not necessarily mean preaching our religion to others on a soap box. Rather, any way we show forth the wonderful news of God's love is a form of evangelization. We should also be ready from time to time to be promoters of the Church in specific situations; e.g., in defending Christ and the Church against attack. A Fiat promoter might at an appropriate moment mention where a retreat is being held, encouraging others to take advantage of it. There may be a special healing mass, or a lecture on spirituality somewhere. Making such opportunities known can be a great help in reaching out to those in spiritual need.

WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL?

To bring everyone closer to Jesus; to liberate them from whatever keeps them from becoming the whole person that God intended them to be; to help them know and experience God's love, and especially to touch people living outside the Church.
We want to help them:
1) to experience God's love (many feel that nobody loves them)
2) to believe in eternal life
3) to see that the Church exists only to help people attain joy, and come home to God's love for all eternity. This can only be done by being faithful to the authentic massage of Jesus Christ.

HOW IS THIS ACCOMPLISHED?

Through FIAT cells or prayer groups which involve Mary's intercession. The new evangelization must have its rationalization in Mary or it will be barren. To bring forth Christ in this world we need both Mary and the Holy Spirit. In the past Mary has often been presented through exaggerations and visions. But the secret of Mary's humble Fiat is a universal model for all Christian witnessing. It is the ideal Christian response to God's call.

WHAT IS A FIAT CELL?

1) It is a gathering of Catholics, (between six and twelve in number, though in the beginning a minimum of three would suffice) who meet together once every week or two weeks to pray, to share and to report on their apostolic outreach during the past week. The meetings are to last about an hour and no more than an hour and a half.
2) Prayer - The FIAT Rosary opens with this prayer: "Most Holy Spirit - help us to relive in union with Mary, the joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries of Jesus. Amen." The group prays together with Mary before the Holy Spirit asking courage as did the first apostles in the Upper Room.
3) Sharing - The leader then reads a short passage from Scripture or from a spiritual book. (Cardinal Suenens books on evangelization carry a wealth of formation material). Each person in turn comments on the word or line in the reading that touched him or her the most.
4) Song - All stand to sing a spiritual hymn.
5) Report - In the final part of the meeting each promoter reports on his or her apostolic activities performed since the last meeting. They might answer such questions as these:
How did you minister to others?
Did you mention the love of God, the love of Jesus at anytime?
What was the reaction? How did you make Christ known and loved?

WHAT IS THE FIAT ROSARY?

The Fiat rosary is not meant to replace the traditional rosary. It was created
in order to help families, parishes and communities not presently praying any
rosary to enter the spiritual dynamism of Fiat.