Saturday, January 04, 2014

First Saturday

Given to St. Theresa Co-Cathedral - Honolulu

Our Lady of Fatima has asked us to keep the First Five Saturday devotion not only for our own good and the good of the world, but more importantly, for reparation against the offenses to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The following is what Michelle Laque Johnson of EWTN wrote:
The world is becoming increasingly de-Christianized. Abortion, now known as “womens’ rights.” Euthanasia, now known as “mercy killing.” Same-sex “marriage,” now considered a “civil right.” Violence, sexual perversity, body mutilation, seeking altered states of consciousness, the occult. What is a Christian to do?

The answer was given to us in 1917 by Our Lady at a little known place known as Fatima. She requested what are now known as the First Saturday Devotions to make reparation for blasphemies and offenses against her Immaculate Heart and for world peace...

“Many consider the First Five Saturdays to be a forgotten part of the Fatima message, and very few people observe them,” said EWTN Chaplain Father Joseph Mary...

“This devotion has four parts – all four should be made in a spirit of reparation for blasphemy and ingratitude and for peace in the world,” Fr. Joseph continued. “First, one should go to confession, generally eight days before or after the First Saturday of the month; Second, one should receive Holy Communion on the First Saturday of the month; Third, recite five decades of the Rosary; and fourth, meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.”

There are great benefits for those who comply with this request. Our Lady told Sister Lucia she would “assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months confess, receive Holy Communion, pray a rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour meditating on the 15 mysteries with the intention of offering reparation.”

Many ask why Our Lady asked her children to observe FIVE first Saturdays. Our Lady told Sister Lucia the five Saturdays are to make reparation for the five kinds of offenses and blasphemies uttered against her Immaculate Heart. The offenses are 1.) against her Immaculate Conception, 2.) against her virginity, 3.) against her Divine maternity, 4.) by those who openly seek to foster in the hearts of children indifference, or even hatred, for this Immaculate Mother, and 5.) by those who directly outrage her holy images.

What if you’ve already made the Five First Saturdays? Should you do it again?

Said Father Joseph: “There is always a need for reparation. Although we can trust in the promises of Our Lady that we have satisfied her desires for ourselves personally, nonetheless, it will still be beneficial for us in making reparation for sins which continue against her Immaculate Heart and for obtaining world peace.”

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