The Five First Saturdays - A Devotion of Reparation
What is the Five First Saturdays Devotion?
The Five First Saturdays is a Marian devotion requested by the Blessed Mother through Sister Lucia, one of the Fatima visionaries. This Saturday devotion asks the faithful to dedicate five consecutive Saturdays to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It includes four specific practices that must be performed with the intention of offering reparation for five particular blasphemies against Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
Stemming from the message of Fatima, this devotion seeks the salvation of souls, peace for the world, and the triumph of Mary’s heart. It reflects a profound way to console the Blessed Mother and respond to her maternal plea for prayer and penance. Participants are promised graces and divine mercy, making it a powerful path to personal and communal holiness.
The First Saturdays devotion is more than a spiritual novena; it is a call to action for the faithful to unite in prayer, devotion, and love for Mary. Through this practice, the faithful grow closer to the Lord while fostering peace and healing in the world, fulfilling the mission entrusted to the Church by the Blessed Mother.
Origin of the First Saturdays
Fatima, Portugal, October 13, 1917
The Virgin Mary requested the Five First Saturdays devotion during her third apparition at Fatima on July 13, 1917. She said “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say many times, especially whenever you make some sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’” During this apparition, she instructed the three shepherd children to promote devotion to her Immaculate Heart.
However, the specific details of the Five First Saturdays devotion were later revealed to Sister Lucia during subsequent private apparitions. The Blessed Mother and the Child Jesus appeared to Sister Lucia on December 10, 1925, in Pontevedra, Spain, providing the details for the Five First Saturdays devotion. It was during this apparition that Mary explained the four practices (confession, Communion, recitation of the Rosary, and 15 minutes of meditation) and their purpose as reparation for sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. The five Blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary were explained by Jesus on May 29, 1930 also to Sr. Lucia..
Pontevedra, Spain December 10, 1925
During this private apparition, the Blessed Virgin Mary explained the Five First Saturdays devotion and its requirements to Sister Lucia. She appeared holding her Immaculate Heart surrounded by thorns, symbolizing the blasphemies and ingratitude committed against her. The Child Jesus spoke first:
Child Jesus:
“Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, covered with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them.”
The Blessed Virgin Mary then spoke, detailing the Five First Saturdays devotion:
Our Lady:
“Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me and announce in my name that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall:
Go to confession,
Receive Holy Communion,
Recite five decades of the Rosary,
Keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Significance of the Date
While the devotion is rooted in the Fatima apparitions of 1917, where the Blessed Virgin emphasized devotion to her Immaculate Heart, it was this 1925 apparition that clarified the specifics of the Five First Saturdays devotion. The request reflects Mary’s ongoing maternal mission to lead souls to God through prayer, repentance, and acts of reparation.
Tuy, Spain, May 29, 1930
The list of five blasphemies originates from a revelation given to Sister Lucia, one of the Fatima visionaries, on May 29, 1930, while she was in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in Tuy, Spain. During this encounter, Sister Lucia asked Jesus why the Five First Saturdays devotion specifically required five Saturdays of reparation, and He explained the reasons.
Jesus revealed that the five blasphemies were specific offenses committed against His Mother, which particularly wound her Immaculate Heart:
- Blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception, denying Mary’s privilege of being conceived without original sin.
- Blasphemies against her perpetual virginity, rejecting that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus.
- Blasphemies against her divine maternity, refusing to recognize Mary as the Mother of God and the spiritual Mother of all humanity.
- Blasphemies by those who instill in children indifference, contempt, or hatred for Mary.
- Blasphemies by those who dishonor her sacred images, showing disrespect or desecrating depictions of Mary.
These offenses highlight the need for reparation to console Mary’s Immaculate Heart and to seek the conversion of sinners. This teaching deepens the meaning of the Five Saturdays devotion, emphasizing how it brings healing to the offenses committed against the Blessed Mother while fostering personal and communal holiness.
What is the Purpose of the First Saturdays Devotion?
The purpose of the Five First Saturdays devotion is to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and fulfill her request made at Fatima. Through this Marian devotion, the faithful are called to make reparation for sins committed against the Blessed Mother and her Immaculate Heart. This Saturday devotion seeks the salvation of souls, peace for the world, and a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Participants dedicate five consecutive Saturdays to this holy practice by making a confession, receiving Holy Communion, praying the Rosary, and meditating on its mysteries for 15 minutes, all offered with the intention of consoling Mary’s heart. These simple yet profound acts of faith bring spiritual graces and promote the triumph of Mary’s heart.
The First Saturdays serve as both a personal and communal call to prayer, penance, and devotion. By responding to Mary’s message, the faithful unite in her mission to bring divine mercy and healing to the world. This Catholic practice reflects a commitment to fostering peace, holiness, and love for the Blessed Mother. It is a powerful reminder of Mary’s maternal care and the transformative power of faith.
Why Was the The First Saturdays Devotion Given?
The Five First Saturdays devotion was given by the Blessed Mother during her apparitions at Fatima to promote reparation for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. This Marian devotion reflects Mary’s deep concern for the salvation of souls and the spiritual peace of the world. Through Sister Lucia, Mary revealed that the practice of this Saturday devotion would bring graces and divine mercy to those who embraced it with faith and love.
The request for the First Saturdays arose from Mary’s sorrow over blasphemies and offenses against her heart and her role as the Mother of God. By dedicating five consecutive Saturdays to confession, Holy Communion, praying the Rosary, and meditating on its mysteries, the faithful console the Immaculate Heart and fulfill Mary’s intention of drawing people closer to the Lord.
This Catholic practice unites the faithful with Mary’s mission to bring peace and conversion to the world. It also emphasizes the power of prayer and penance as tools to combat sin. The Five First Saturdays is a call to love and devotion, honoring the Blessed Mother’s role in God’s plan for redemption.
What are the Four Practices of the First Saturdays?
The Five First Saturdays devotion, requested by the Blessed Mother at Fatima, includes four specific practices designed to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and bring graces to the faithful. These practices are carried out on five consecutive Saturdays with the intention of making reparation for sins and seeking the salvation of souls.
Confession
The faithful are asked to make a sincere confession to cleanse their hearts and prepare for the divine mercy of this Marian devotion. The confession can be made within eight days before or after the Saturday devotion.
Holy Communion
Receiving the Eucharist on each First Saturday demonstrates unity with the Lord and strengthens the soul with His presence.
Rosary Prayer
Praying the Rosary reflects Mary’s request at Fatima, meditating on its mysteries to grow closer to her heart.
Meditation on the Mysteries
A 15-minute reflection on one or more of the mysteries of the Rosary brings spiritual depth and fulfills Mary’s call to prayer.
These four holy practices are a profound expression of love for Mary, embracing her message of peace and her mission for the world’s salvation.
Why Five Saturdays?
The Five First Saturdays devotion, requested by the Blessed Mother during the apparitions at Fatima, is rooted in Mary’s call for reparation to her Immaculate Heart. The five Saturdays were chosen to correspond to the five blasphemies committed against her holy heart and role in God’s plan for the salvation of souls. Mary revealed this profound request to Sister Lucia, one of the Fatima visionaries, emphasizing the need for this Marian devotion to bring peace to the world and graces to the faithful.
The five blasphemies include:
Denial of her Immaculate Conception,
Denial of her perpetual virginity,
Denial of her role as the Mother of God and Mother of all,
Dishonor shown toward her sacred images,
Indifference or neglect in teaching children to love and honor Mary.
By dedicating five consecutive Saturdays to confession, Holy Communion, praying the Rosary, and meditating on its mysteries, the faithful console Mary’s heart and respond to her maternal message. This Saturday devotion fosters a deeper connection to the Lord and strengthens the Church’s mission to convert souls and bring healing to the world.
Graces promised by Our Lady
Our Lady of Fatima promised extraordinary graces to those who faithfully observe the Five First Saturdays devotion. This Marian practice, requested by the Blessed Mother through Sister Lucia, brings spiritual blessings to the faithful who dedicate five consecutive Saturdays to honoring Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
The primary grace promised is the salvation of souls. Mary assured that those who fulfill her request for this Saturday devotion with proper intention—through confession, Holy Communion, praying the Rosary, and meditating on its mysteries—will receive her assistance at the hour of death. This is a promise of mercy and maternal care, where Mary intercedes for her children to ensure their eternal union with the Lord.
By participating in the First Saturdays, the faithful also contribute to the reparation of sins against Mary’s heart, fostering peace in the world and uniting their efforts with the message of Fatima. This holy practice strengthens devotion to Mary and deepens the spiritual life of those who embrace it.
Through this divine Catholic devotion, Mary invites her children to experience the fullness of God’s graces while supporting the conversion and salvation of others. Her promise is a testament to her love as the Mother of all.
The Role of the Rosary in the Devotion
The Rosary plays a central role in the Five First Saturdays devotion, as requested by the Blessed Mother during the apparitions at Fatima. This essential Marian practice emphasizes the power of the rosary in bringing peace to the world, fostering the salvation of souls, and honoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As part of the Saturday devotion, the faithful are called to pray the entire rosary, reflecting on its mysteries with the intention of making reparation for sins against Mary’s holy heart. This act of prayer unites the participant with Mary’s maternal love and deepens their relationship with the Lord.
The rosary also serves as a meditative tool for fulfilling another key aspect of the First Saturdays: a 15-minute meditation on one or more of the mysteries. Through this meditation, the faithful grow closer to the life of Christ and Mary while responding to her message of prayer and conversion.
In this divine Catholic devotion, the rosary is both a means of receiving graces and a way to console the Blessed Mother’s sorrowful heart, fulfilling her request for prayer and penance for the conversion of the world.
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Last Publish: December 30, 2024