What are the Five First Saturdays?
Our Lady explained those Five First Saturdays to Sr. Lucia dos Santos, one of the Fatima visionaries, on Dec. 10, 1925, in the following way:
See, my daughter, my Heart encircled by thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, strive to console me. Tell them that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.
Why five First Saturdays in particular? Jesus explained this to Sr. Lucia on May 29-30, 1930, saying:
Daughter, the motive is simple: There are five kinds of offenses and blasphemies spoken against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
First: blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception.
Second: against her Virginity.
Third: against the Divine Maternity, refusing, at the same time, to receive her as the Mother of mankind.
Fourth: those who seek publicly to implant, in the hearts of children, indifference, disrespect, and even hate for this Immaculate Mother.
Fifth: those who revile her directly in her sacred images.
Here, dear daughter, is the motive that led the Immaculate Heart of Mary to petition Me to ask for this small act of reparation. And, out of regard for her, to move My mercy to pardon those souls who have had the misfortune to offend her. As for you, seek endlessly, with your prayers and sacrifices, to move Me to mercy in regard to these poor souls.
Many people have forgotten about the Five First Saturdays devotion, but it’s still relevant today. There are wars still going on! We still haven’t seen the fulfillment of Our Lady’s promise that “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.” There’s no peace in the world. Why? Ask yourself: Have most of us been faithful to her requests, especially the First Saturdays of Reparation?
If you love Mary start making the Five First Saturdays a regular part of your prayer life. Start this Saturday, April 2, 2022!
If you can make the Five First Saturdays more than once. Make it a great spiritual practice! Go to Confession, Mass, Communion, say five decades of the Rosary and immerse yourself in the Mysteries of the Rosary while keeping the Blessed Virgin Mary company for 15 minutes, all offered in reparation for the many serious offenses committed against Our Lady. Make the First Saturdays throughout your life for love of Our Lady and reap huge spiritual rewards.
Let’s make reparation together to the Immaculate Heart by being faithful to the Five First Saturdays, and help Our Lady spread grace, peace, and healing throughout all the world.
Information taken from:
Marians of The Immaculate Conception
The artwork used in this post was found on Pinterest. It depicts the Seven Sorrows of Mary. I plan to do a post on this devotion soon.
Lovely Livings 