S U N D A Y , J A N U A R Y 2 0 - S U N D A Y , A P R I L 2 8

FIAT NINETY-EIGHT
Then Mary turned to the servants and said to them, "Do

whatever he tells you."

PUTTING YOUR BELIEFS INto ACTION

We live in a time of talk. We talk about doing good, loving God, and being Saints. But what are we doing?

What actions are we taking? What differences in our own lives are we making to accomplish these goals? In Mary’s

last words, we have the perfect formula—a call to obedience—so that we may end up with Jesus Christ for all of

eternity. Christ tells us to go and sell everything that we own and to follow him, and then we will enter the kingdom of

heaven. As young women living in the twenty-first century, we are always striving, but Fiat 98 is here to present a

challenge greater than most.

Fiat 98 is a retreat for Catholic College Women who are seeking to live in the world and not be of it. The retreat

begins with 90 days of purification and concludes with celebration through the Easter Octave (8 days), ending on Divine

Mercy Sunday. So often we do small things to love Jesus, to become more like Mary, to strive for Sainthood. But this

90-day retreat looks at putting small things together to make one big thing. Mary has appeared over 100 times, and each

time she brings the same message: do penance and fast, for it is in these actions that Mary’s most loving and gentle

heart will restore hope and healing to our world. While the challenges of sanctifying your body, mind, and soul seem

large, at the end of these 90 days it is not possible to have gained nothing from it all. As you look at the lists on the next

page it is normal to feel overwhelmed and to quickly put up a mental block. Stop. Stop right now, and promise that you

will not say, “I can’t do this.” Because you can. It’s one thing to say that you don’t want to; it's one thing to decide this

is not what God is calling you to right now. But this is possible. It will be hard, exhausting, and frustrating, but as Pope

Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You have been

made for greatness.” These next 90 days will feel anything but great, but when you get to day 91 you will see that you

can indeed climb any mountain.

We want to start this on Sunday, January 20 because your 91st day will be on Easter. We want you to be ready,

and we want you to have a reason to celebrate on April 21st because you have been preparing—with Mary's help, for

the Resurrection of the Lord. For those of you on the fence, remember the famous quote told to Queen Esther:

“Perhaps, this is the moment for which you have been created for.” We live in times when the lies of Satan are

rampant, when lukewarmness is a natural state of life for most, and where God is put into a check box on my to-do list.

Now is the time. Ask yourself, "What do you have to lose?" Mary wants us to put her Son at the center of everything

we do. She wants us to be obedient to him. She wants us to someday join her in heaven. Before you begin, say this

prayer: “Mary, Queen of Heaven and of Earth, pray for me. I invoke your help as I discern this task. Grant me the

humility, the wisdom, and obedient spirit that does not hesitate to surrender and trust in God my Father.” This is big.

This is crazy. But the cross was bigger, and His crucifixion crazier. And the craziest part of it all was that He rose

again.
 the heart
Look at Mary’s Heart. Look at the vibrant red, the healthy form, the strength that it

radiates. How can we help but be captivated, for we know that in that heart there are

many joys and many sufferings. The trials that heart has endured, and the

celebrations of which it has been a part. These next 90 days are about uniting your

heart to that heart. We are called to be more like Mary, and it will begin first and

foremost with our own hearts. Lay your heart in her hands, and trust that she will

take it to Jesus.

St. Faustina, Pray for Us.

the sword
Suffering is a central piece of the life that Mary lived, and so too will it be for us in

these next 90 days. We will suffer temptations and frustrations as we take on these

challenges. However, Mary at the foot of the cross is the witness that we can bear the

crosses that we have been given. Just as Mary endured pains and humiliations, we must

hand her our bodily sufferings in these next 90 days, uniting ourselves to her at the foot

of the cross.

St. Maximillian Kolbe, Pray for Us.

the roses
The rose is a symbol of love—pure, spotless, and unfailing. These roses are Mary, the

pure and spotless virgin who was able to bear the Christ child. Our minds long to hold

thoughts of the true, good, and beautiful but are so distracted and consumed. In these

next 90 days, we long for Mary to purify or minds, making room for the Christ child.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Pray for Us.

the fire
As a fire is all-consuming, so is Mary’s passionate love for her Son and for the whole

world. This burning love must begin in the soul, and it starts with the desire to love God

above all else. Thus, the more we tend the fire, the larger it becomes and the more it is

able to engulf what is around it. This fire is our soul. In these next 90 days, we need to

tend to our souls, entrusting Mary to add the wood that allows the love for Christ and for

everyone we encounter to continue to grow.

St. John Paul II, Pray for Us.

 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within
you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought
at a price. Therefore honor God at a price."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
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LORD, I WILL PRAISE YOU THROUGH MY BODY…
1. I will eat three meals a day, with no snacking in between. A meal I

will define as one main item with two side items.

2. I commit to the Heroic Minute. I will wake up with my first alarm and

not hit snooze. Through this action, I will give you the start of my day,

as my first sacrifice to you.

3. I will do something active at least twice a week. I recognize that my

body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that you have given it to me as a

gift. I will engage in physical activity, but I will not push my bodies

outside its limits. I will take care of it, so that it does not make me

prideful but that you can use it.

4. I will not drink alcohol or eat sweets/desserts. Sweets include soda.

Alcohol in moderation in community is okay if over age 21.

5. I will commit to fast on Fridays. I do this in memory of your death,

and the suffering you endured for me. This fast will consist of one full

meal, and the other two meals will only be one side dish. I will abstain

from meat.

6. I will go to bed by midnight six nights a week. I recognize that in order

for me to perform as the best version of myself, I need my body to get

the proper amount of sleep. I know that I will not be missing out on

anything by letting my body recover from all that I am doing.

7. I will uphold the beauty and dignity of my body. I will not say

anything that devalues the beauty of this gift and I will not permit myself

or someone else to treat it as an object of use.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
What God's Will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will."
Romans 12:2
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LORD, I WILL PRAISE YOU THROUGH MY Mind…
1. I will get rid of all my social media. I will avoid any media that leads

me to anything other than truth, beauty, and goodness.

2. I will only watch one TV show or one movie per week. I will not watch

more than one show or one movie per week, and when I do, I will be

with at least two other people.

3. I will only listen to things that point me to God. This entails praise and

worship music, homily podcasts, and the news.

4. I will not make any unnecessary purchase. I will hold off on buying

any unnecessary clothes or food. If someone buys something for me, I

will graciously accept it.

5. I will not gossip or complain. I know that my words have effects far

more than I realize, so I will learn to hold my tongue and think before I

speak.

6. I will not multitask. It is better for me to do one activity, and then

move on to the next. I will use this as an opportunity to prioritize, getting

my schoolwork done ahead of time and not putting it off until the last

minute. I want to put 100% effort into the work that is right in front of

me and not try to do multiple things at once.

7. I will not text during class or at meals. When people are present to

me, I am going to be present to them. Christ loves the person in front of

me, and I want them to know that by how I treat them.

 "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, but forfeit
their soul? or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? for the
son of man is going to come in his father's glory with his angels, and
then he will reward each person according to what they have done."
Matthew 16:26-27
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LORD, I WILL PRAISE YOU THROUGH MY Soul…

1. I will go to daily Mass. This includes Saturdays. I will also try and

make my Sunday Mass obligation on Sundays and not the Saturday

anticipatory Mass.

2. I will pray daily. I will set aside a time and place to pray at least

twenty minutes each day and commit to at least one holy hour a week. I

will be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to stop into the

adoration chapel as often as possible.

3. I will go to confession weekly.

4. I will say the 3:00 pm Memorare. At 3:00 each day, I will stop

whatever I am doing to pray a Memorare for Mary’s intercession in our

world.

5. I will say a daily Rosary. I will meditate on the mysteries of the

Rosary for each day.

6. I will do a 54-Day Rosary Novena. The Novena will begin on

Wednesday, January 30 and end on Monday, March 25—the Feast of the

Annunciation. For the first 27 days I will pray for my specific intention,

and for the last 27 days I will pray in thanksgiving.

7. I will finish with the 33 Days to Merciful Love Consecration. The

reading and praying for the consecration will begin on Tuesday, March

26 and conclude with the consecration on Divine Mercy Sunday—

the Sunday after Easter known as the Octave Day of Easter.

 Trust. Hope. Humility.
trust
“Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the

Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9

This challenge requires a tremendous amount of trust. Trust that you are not alone, and that you can do all

90 days. Trust that this is something He wants you to undertake. Trust that He loves you and has so much

to teach you in these 90 days.

hope
“You will live secure and full of hope; God will protect you and give you rest.” - Job 11:18

This challenge is all about hope, to believe in the things that are seemingly impossible but will indeed be

done. It is about hoping for the greatness that God intends to bring out of this, and the hope that He will

indeed use this for His glory.

humility
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace. With humility, then comes wisdom.” - Proverbs 11:2

This challenge is not about you, its all about Him and His glory. There is no need to tell everyone or to

make it a show. Take this as an opportunity to serve those around you, to think less about yourself, and

__________________________________________
to truly let Christ take over your life.

important dates
January 20: First Day of Fiat 98 fast

January 30: First Day of 54-Day Rosary Novena

March 25: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Last Day of 54 Day Rosary Novena

March 26: Beginning of the Consecration to Merciful Love

April 21: Easter (Day of Celebration) and last day of Fiat 98 fast

April 28: Divine Mercy Sunday and Consecration Day for 33 Days to Merciful Love

_________________________________________

let's. go.
These next 90 days might be difficult. It is impossible to undertake something like this and not be

affected by Christ. It will be hard, but it will be worth it. Form a group, and become accountable to one

another. Wherever two or more are gathered in His name, He promises to be there too. Hold each other

to it, and do not quit. It is important for you to read the accounts of Our Lady of Fatima. If you at all

doubt or question why this challenge should be taken on, read what Mary said to the three children.

Use the prayers and Immaculate Heart of Mary, they are meant to help you throughout this journey.
dear friends/sisters/lovers of Christ,
I wanted to write you a little note explaining the

prayer that went into preparing this retreat. Fiat 90 was

originally written for women at Benedictine, but I have

customized it for you this year. Since arriving at UNL, I

have been continually in awe of the fruit of surrendering

trust to God's plan. And who better to turn to for an

example of surrender than Mary? The one thing that she

did and does is the one thing that we all have to do,

namely, to bear Christ into the world. The purpose for

which human beings are made is told to us in the

catechism: to know, love, and serve God in this world and

to be happy with Him forever in the next. Yet it is really

through ordinary human life and things of every hour of

every day we experience union with God. What strikes me

about Mary is her fiat, meaning "let it be done." When

Gabriel came to Mary, she was not asked to do anything

herself, but to let something be done to her. The one thing

that was asked of her was her everyday humanity, her

body and soul unconditionally. We will not be asked to

do more than Mary; we will not be asked to become

extraordinary or set apart. What we shall be asked to give

is our flesh and blood, our daily life—our thoughts, our

service to one another, our affections and loves, our

words, our intellect, our walking, working, and sleeping,

our ordinary human joys and sorrows—to God. Through

many small fiats in this ordinary life, I have witnessed the

students in my life grow closer to God and bring others

with them.

Mary's "yes" makes it possible for us to say "yes."

Yet, it can be easier to trust someone who shares our

insufficiency than to trust God. Heck, I trust distracted

drivers every time I cross the street more easily than I

pray "be it done unto me according to your word." It

would be easier to sacrifice something big to God than to

say "Do what you like with me." But Mary models it for

us throughout her entire life—no conditions, without

limits. And people who will not compromise with Christ's

values are uncomfortable neighbors of mediocrity; they

are likely to be misunderstood. God even allowed Joseph

to misjudge Mary, at least for a time, to prove that God

knew Mary's trust in Him was infinite. His trust in her

trust in Him. I pray that we meet God in the small

moments and thank Him for the first "yes" that enables

each of our own throughout these 90 days.

I've included some prayers below to accompany

you and guide you when you're feeling discouraged or

need some spiritual warfare. I will be praying for you and

with you. And I thank God that your "yes" inspires me to

strive for Heaven more fervently than I ever could on my

own. I pray that God blesses you and keeps you safe each

and every day of your life. "Lord, by myself I cannot do

it, but with your help, I can."

God Bless,
maggie may
 litany of trust litany of humility
From the belief that That You are continually holding me O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

I have to earn Your love... sustaining me, loving me... From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, Jesus. Jesus, I trust in you. Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear that I am unlovable... That Your love goes deeper than my From the desire of being loved...

From the false security sins and failings, and transforms me... From the desire of being extolled ...

that I have what it takes... That not knowing what tomorrow From the desire of being honored ...

From the fear that trusting You brings is an invitation to lean on You... From the desire of being praised ...

will leave me more destitute... That you are with me in my suffering... From the desire of being preferred to others...

From all suspicion of That my suffering, united to Your own, From the desire of being consulted ...

Your words and promises... will bear fruit in this life and the next... From the desire of being approved ...

From the rebellion against That You will not leave me orphan, From the fear of being humiliated ...

childlike dependency on You... that You are present in Your Church... From the fear of being despised...

From refusals and reluctances That Your plan is better From the fear of suffering rebukes ...

in accepting Your will... than anything else... From the fear of being calumniated ...

From anxiety about the future... That You always hear me and in From the fear of being forgotten ...

From resentment or excessive Your goodness always respond to me... From the fear of being ridiculed ...

preoccupation with the past... That You give me the grace to accept From the fear of being wronged ...

From restless self-seeking forgiveness and to forgive others... From the fear of being suspected ...

in the present moment... That You give me all the strength That others may be loved more than I,

From disbelief in Your love I need for what is asked... Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

and presence... That my life is a gift... That others may be esteemed more than I ...

From the fear of being asked That You will teach me to trust You... That, in the opinion of the world,

to give more than I have... That You are my Lord and my God... others may increase and I may decrease ...

From the belief that my life That I am Your beloved one... That others may be chosen and I set aside ...

has no meaning or worth... That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...

From the fear of what love demands... That others may be preferred to me in

From discouragement... everything...

That others may become holier than I, provided

that I may become as holy as I should…

saint mother theresa's humility list

To speak as little as possible of one’s self.

To mind one’s own business.

Not to want to manage other people’s affairs.

To avoid curiosity.

To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.

To pass over the mistakes of others.

To accept insults and injuries.

To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.

To be kind and gentle even under provocation.

Never to stand on one’s dignity.

To choose always the hardest.

prayer to the immaculate heart of mary

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Heavenly beauty and splendor of the Father, You are the most valued Heavenly treasure. New Eve,

immaculate in soul, spirit and body, Created of the godly seed by the Spirit of God, You are the spiritual Mother of mankind. Pure

Virgin, full of grace then and now, Your whole being was raised Heavenly in full glory, To be elevated above all the hosts within

the Kingdom of God. O Heavenly Mother, Queen of Heaven and earth, I recognize the glory of your highest title, The Immaculate

Heart of Mary! Loving Mother, dispenser of endless blessings, You who continuously intercedes on our behalf, Please present my

need before your loving Son Jesus. (In your own words, make your special request here. Do not just mention a word. Speak to the

Immaculate Heart of Mary as you would speak to another person, begging your Heavenly Mother to plea to Jesus on your behalf,

that you be granted this special request.) O Immaculate Heart of Mary, I know that you are now presenting my need before Jesus,

For you have never turned away those in dire need. Mother dearest, I await your favorable answer, Submitting myself to the

Divine will of the Lord, For all glories are His forever and ever. Amen.