FIRST SATURDAYS OF REPARATION
One of our earliest posts, urging the essential devotion of First Saturdays in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God.
Here is a lovely article on devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, especially the First Saturdays of Reparation. It is by Father Rostand:
“We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor His Mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor Him all the more perfectly.” By these words St. Louis Marie de Montfort invites us to go to Our Lady as a way leading us to Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Fatima our dear Lady reminded us of a special way[1] to honor her: the devotion to her Immaculate Heart. Here is what she said to the three little children:
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.[2]
On December 10, 1925 the Blessed Virgin Mary said to Lucia:
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 say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, 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 me.
To our times has been given the Immaculate Heart of Mary, surrounded by thorns, outraged by so many sins but seeking reparation for them. Here is what she told the children:
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.[3]
As we enter the month of Mary, let us remember to go and honor Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us practice the five first Saturdays devotion again and again, not only once in a lifetime, but every month of every year, so as to make reparation for the sins committed against her Sorrowful Heart. If the first intention which has led us to the practice of the first Saturdays is the grace of final perseverance, it is certainly more perfect to practice this devotion in order to console Our Lady, to repair for the offenses against her Immaculate Heart, and to offer the merits of these reparations for poor sinners.
In a letter to Fr. Goncalves on June 12, 1930, Sister Lucy named the reasons Our Lord had given to her for the five Saturdays, corresponding to five kinds of offenses:
- The blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception;
- The blasphemies against her virginity;
- The blasphemies against her divine maternity, refusing also to recognize her as Mother of men;
- The blasphemies of those who intend to put in the hearts of children indifference, spite, or hate for her Immaculate Heart;
- The blasphemies against her images.
Let us remember that the consecration of Russia that we all expect and want to be done as soon as possible and as Our Lady requested it, has been asked of the hierarchy of the Church and therefore depends on us in only a very remote way. Let us take care of what does depend on us first!
In the letter we quote above, Sister Lucy shows how this consecration is in fact an expression of the same devotion to the Immaculate Heart. She speaks about an “act of reparation and consecration of Russia” to be made by the Pope and all the bishops of the world, with the promise that one day the Holy Father would approve and recommend this devotion of reparation. It is clear that God wants, by means of the consecration of Russia and of its happy results for the Church and the world, to encourage us to enter more generously into this practice of our Faith.
Our priests make great efforts to say Mass in some of the mission chapels on the First Saturdays. It is sometimes sad to see how few people attend Mass on these days. Please, continue to be generous in complying with the request of Our Lady. Ask your pastors for the possibility of receiving communion on the following Sunday when really kept from receiving it on the first Saturday, as Our Lord mentioned to Sister Lucy in the apparition in Tuy (May 29, 1930).
As a reminder, the required devotion of First Saturdays of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary consists of:
- Confession (may be within 8 days either before or after).
- Holy Communion
- 5 Decade Rosary, “o terzo”, Portuguese for one third of the Rosary. Precludes Luminous.
- 15 minutes of visiting with Our Lady in reparation, while meditating on mysteries of her Rosary
Each of the above steps, that is, Confession, Communion, Rosary and meditation must be offered in a spirit of reparation, of course. The message of Fatima demands worldwide repentance, reparation through the First Saturdays and through one’s daily duties of state. Without the First Saturdays of Reparation, the Consecration of Russia cannot be accomplished, and thus the tragic auto-demolition of the Faith will continue.
Please, pray the Rosary and confound the devil!
Remember – Our Lady needs us to obey: First Saturdays of Reparation, daily rosary, at least 5 mysteries, wear her brown scapular and live your Total Consecration to her Immaculate Heart, offering daily duties in reparation and for the conversion of poor sinners.
Open your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only: and He will free you from the hands of your enemies. With all your heart return to Him, and take away from your midst any strange gods” (I Kings 7:3)
✝︎ Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of our hearts, Mother of the Church, do thou offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, for the conversion of poor sinners, especially our Pontiff.
✝︎ Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come! Viva Cristo Rey!
✝︎ St. Joseph, protect us, protect our families, protect our priests.
✝︎ St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
~ by evensong for love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, King.
Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O Sacred Virgin! Give me strength against thine enemies!