The Power of the First Five Saturday Devotion
The Five First Saturday Devotion is one of the principal points of the Fatima message of Our Lady. In short, it centers on the urgent need for mankind to offer reparation and penance for the many sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary which in return hurts the Sacred Heart of her Son, our Lord.
History
During the third apparition of our Lady to three small shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal on July 13th, 1917, Our Lady revealed that she would come to ask for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and for the Communion of Reparation of the Five First Saturdays. Consequently, she asked for the devotion in 1925 and the consecration in 1929.
“Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother which is covered with thorns with which ingrate men pierce it at every moment with no one to make an act of reparation to pull them out.”
On December 10th, 1925, Our Lady came to Sister Lucia (one of the three shepherd children, now grown) and, showing her a vision, said to her: “See, my daughter, My Heart surrounded with thorns which which ingrates pierce me at every moment with blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, make sure to console me and announce that all those who for five months, on the first Saturdays, go to confession, receive Communion, say five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for 15 minutes meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the purpose of making reparation to Me, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls.”
Why Five Saturdays?
In a letter, Sr. Lucia related a vision she had of Our Lord. In it, Jesus explained how the five first Saturdays correspond to the five kinds of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These include:
- Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception;
- Blasphemies against her perpetual virginity;
- Blasphemies against her divine maternity and, at the same time, the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all men;
- Instilling indifference, scorn, and even hatred towards the Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children;
- Direct insults against Her sacred images
Let us always keep the above reasons firm in our minds. Devotions have intentions attached to them and contemplating these intentions while praying adds much merit and blessing to the practice.
So what does the First Saturday Devotion consist of?
- Confession;
- Receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion (in a state of grace);
- Saying five decades of the Rosary;
- Meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary
*All of this offered with the specific intention of making reparation for the sins of blasphemy and ingratitude committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Mother of God.
Two Powerful Promises made by Our Lady
First promise: If the requests for the collegial consecration and the First Saturdays Devotion are fulfilled, Our Lady promises a period of peace and salvation of many souls (July 13, 1917);
Second promise: For those who fulfill five consecutive First Saturdays, Our Lady promises personal salvation (Dec. 10, 1925).
Conclusion
Our Lady’s warning is especially applicable nowadays in this age of schism in the Church and increasing paganism, modernism, relativism, division, and violence in society at large. It’s as if we can hear her crying out, “Will you people please listen to me, obey, and love my Son?”
It is worth mentioning here that in our prayers to Mother Mary, Catholics are not “worshipping” her; rather, we honor her in love and gratitude for being our Spiritual Mother, the Mother of Our Lord, par excellence, always lovingly ready and willing to assist us with receiving the divine graces needed for salvation.
One final note before you get started on your First Saturday, once you’ve completed the Five First (consecutive) Saturdays, you can absolutely continue this devotion on subsequent Saturdays for increased blessing and graces. We can never be too spiritually sharp! Remember, when we honor and obey Christ’s Mother, just like He did in the Gospel message, we will be blessed beyond our wildest imagination. Not to mention, the First Saturday Devotion is needed in our world more now than ever.
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