By Mary Ann Zimmerman
We all think that we are thoroughly versed on our Catholic Faith. There are many devotions that Catholics, me included, do not know about, or understand them in their entirety. One such devotion is the Five Consecutive First Saturdays. This devotion is intended for the reparation of the blasphemies and ingratitude that pierced the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady of Fatima and the Child Jesus appeared on February 15, 1926, the Lord explained to Lucy, a postulant in a Dorothean convent, that few souls actually completed the devotion of fifteen Saturdays or twelve consecutive first Saturdays or do so for their own advantage motivated by the plenary indulgence attached to the devotion. Our Lord said he seeks instead that we bring to the Five First Saturdays’ devotion, a fervent spirit of love and reparation toward the Immaculate Heart of Mary shown surrounded by thorns.
On May 29, 1930, the Lord explained to Lucy why he specified the five days of reparation. There are five types of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary: 1) Blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception; 2) Blasphemies against her Virginity; 3) Blasphemies against her Divine Maternity, refusing at the same time to recognize her as Mother of men; 4) The blasphemies of those who publicly seek to sow in the hearts of children indifference or scorn, or even hatred of this Immaculate Mother; 5) The offense of those who outrage her directly in her holy images.
Jesus asked Lucy, and us, through this devotion, to move his Mercy to pardon souls who have offended his Mother, because the Divine Mercy does not pardon these souls without reparation. More detailed information regarding this devotion can be found in the book, “First Saturday Meditation Manual” by Father Nicholas Gruner, S.T.L., S.T.D. (Cand,) with Imprimatur. This booklet will be available to purchase in the parish gift shop in the near future.
To gain a Plenary Indulgence, Our Lady has asked that on the Five First Saturdays we go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep her company for fifteen minutes while mediating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with intention of making reparation to her.”
I hope you now have a clearer understanding of this sacred devotion. May God continue to bless you and your family and bring you his Peace.
Pray Hope and Don’t Worry. Padré Pio
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