This post contains affiliate links.
The Five First Saturday Devotion is performing acts of reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Jesus requested this devotion to Sister Lucia as a Carmelite nun, who was one of the seers at Fatima in 1917.
The devotion of honouring Mary for five first Saturdays of each month in succession was requested by Jesus as an establish devotion in the world following the apparitions at Fatima, 1917. The devotion is in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The reason for five is that there are five ways in which mankind offends the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In the Memoirs of Sister Lucia from ”Fatima In Lucia’s Own Words’, the Blessed Mother showed the children at the June 13, 1917 apparition. This is directly from Sister Lucia’s Fourth Memoir:
“What do you want of me?” I asked.
“I wish you to come here on the 13th of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. Later, I will tell you what I want.”
I asked for the cure of a sick person.
“lf he is converted, he will be cured during the year.”
“I would like to ask you to take us to Heaven.”
“Yes. I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
“Am I to stay here alone?” I asked, sadly.
“No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”
As Our Lady spoke these last words, she opened her hands and for the second time, she communicated to us the rays of that same immense light. We saw ourselves in this light, as it were, immersed in God. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in that part of the light which rose towards Heaven, and I in that which was poured out on the earth.
In front of the palm of Our Lady’s right hand was a heart encircled by thorns which pierced it.
We understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, outraged by the sins of humanity, and seeking reparation.”
The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was at the centre of the apparitions at Fatima 1917. Not only does Our Lady request the devotion but it is the Will of Our Lord Jesus that this devotion be practiced in the world.
The Blessed Mother holds Her Immaculate Heart in Her right hands with thorns encircled, showing the sins that pierce Her Heart with the sins committed against Her Immaculate Heart.
God wants to establish a devotion in reparation for all the sins, offences and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
What is the origin of the Five First Saturday Devotion?
Following the June 13, 1917, apparition, the Child Jesus delivered the devotion to His beloved Mother to one of the seers of Fatima, Lúcia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos (born March 28, 1907 and died on February 13, 2005) at her Convent. Lucia’s religious name as a Carmelite Nun was Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart.
At her convent in Pontevedra, Spain on the 10 December 1925, Our Blessed Lord as a Child appeared to Sister Lucia with the following words:
“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.”
This message at her convent is a continuation of the horrifying vision of Hell on the 13 July 1917 where Our Lady explained:
“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.”
After this, the Blessed Virgin said:
“Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me 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 moment of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall receive the sacrament of Confession, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to my Immaculate Heart.”
Why Five Saturdays?
First, Saturday has traditionally been set aside as a day to honor Mary. For, on the first Holy Saturday — between the day of Jesus’ Crucifixion and that of his Resurrection — she alone remained steadfast in her Faith that Jesus would rise again as He said.
Beyond this, Sr. Lucy relates the reason for five:
When I was in the chapel with Our Lord part of the night of May 29-30, 1930, and I spoke to Our Lord about this question, I suddenly felt myself more intimately possessed by the Divine Presence and, if I am not mistaken, this is what was revealed to me: “My daughter, the reason is simple. There are five types of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
(1) Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception.
(2) Blasphemies against her virginity.
(3) Blasphemies against her divine maternity, in refusing at the same time to recognize her as the Mother of men.
(4) The blasphemies of those who publicly seek to sow in the hearts of children indifference to, or scorn or even hatred of this Immaculate Mother.
(5) The offenses of those who outrage her directly in her holy images.”
On each of these points:
In each of these blasphemies and offenses against Our Lady we can witness these in our world.
Point One:
How many deny our Lady being Immaculately Conceived? How many see Mary as just an ‘ordinary woman”?
Point Two:
How many deny the Virgin Birth and Her perpetual Virginity? The Catholic Church teaches as a Dogma of Faith that Mary is, was and ever will be a Virgin – before, during and after the Birth of Jesus.
Point Three:
Mary is denied as having any role in the life of Her children, here on earth. Mary is our Mother and intercessor but Mary relegated as just a ‘good and holy woman’. Yes! Sure she is but She is far more than that.
Point Four:
Children are denied knowing and learning about their Mother and even taught to deny all of the above.
Point Five:
How many statues and images of Our Lady are adapted to immoral acts that call out for vengeance from Heaven?
How many statues and images that represent Our Lady are deformed and lack modesty and beauty?
St Bernadette Soubirous, the privileged visionary at Lourdes in 1858, was shown many different statues and images of Our Lady, and yet none come close in comparison to the beauty and radiance of the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.
In fact, all images and statues should remain true to the approved apparitions of Our Lady across the world. There should not be any statues and images that are based on interpretation.
What are the requirements to fulfil this devotion?
On the 1st Saturday of 5 consecutive months:
1. Make a good Confession
(This can be made within 8 days before or after the first Saturday).
Always begin with:
“I offer this Confession in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary”.
2. Receive Holy Communion
(Regarding the difficulty that some could meet in fulfilling this requirement on Saturday, Our Lord told Sister Lucia:
“The practice of this devotion will be equally acceptable on the Sunday following the first Saturday when my priests, for a just cause, allow the faithful”.
3. Pray 5 decades the Holy Rosary.
4. Keep Our Lady company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
NB: This 4th requirement is be done separately from the Rosary using one, several or all of the mysteries. 5. The above 4 requirements must all be done with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
What are the promised attached to the Five First Saturdays devotion?
The practice of every devotion in honour of Our Lady comes with special promises to those in the proper disposition according to their status in life.
The Five First Saturdays Devotion is no different.
Here is what our Lady promises:
- The Virgin Mary’s assistance at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.
- Establishing devotion to the Immaculate Heart will result in the salvation of souls and peace.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us.