“Whether the world has war or peace depends on the practice of this devotion, along with the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is why I desire its propagation so ardently, especially because this is the Will of our Dear Mother in Heaven.” -Sr. Lucy (March 19, 1939).
During Our Lady’s July apparition at Fatima, She said to Lucia, “I shall come to ask… that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.” Although Mary made no further mention of this devotion at Fatima, on December 10, 1925, Our Blessed Mother again appeared to Lucia at Pentevedra, Spain, where the seer had been sent to the Dorothean Sisters to learn to read and write. It was there Our Lady completed Her request for the Five First Saturdays and gave Her great Promise.
Appearing with the Queen of Heaven in that apparition was the infant Jesus, Who said to Lucia: “Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother. It is covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to remove them with an act of reparation.”
Our Lady then spoke: “See, my daughter, my Heart encircled with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least strive to console me. Tell them I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, in order to make reparation to Me, on the First Saturday of Five Consecutive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep Me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.”
The elements of this devotion consist of the following four points, which must be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Confession: This confession can be made before the First Saturday or afterward, provided that Holy Communion be received in the state of grace.
In 1926, Christ in a vision explained to Lucia that this confession could be made a week before or even more, and that it should be offered in reparation. - Holy Communion: Before receiving Holy Communion, it is likewise necessary to offer it in reparation to Our Lady. Our Lord told Lucia in 1930, “This Communion will be accepted on the following Sunday for just reasons, if My priests allow it so. “So if work or school, sickness, or another just reason prevents the Communion on a First Saturday, with this permission, it may be received the following Sunday. If Communion is transferred, any or all of the other acts of devotion may also be performed on Sunday if the person so desires.
- Rosary: The Rosary is a vocal prayer said upon meditating on the mysteries of Our Lord’s life and Passion and Our Lady’s life. To comply with the request of Our Blessed Mother, it must be offered in reparation and said properly while meditating.
- 15-minute meditation: Also offered in reparation, the meditation may embrace one or more mysteries; it may include all, taken together or separately. This meditation should be the richest of any meditation, because Our Lady promised to be present when She said, …those who keep Me company…”
To those who faithfully follow Our Lady’s requests for the Five First Saturdays, She has made a wonderful promise which She, as Mediatrix of All Graces, will certainly fulfill: “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.” This means that Our Blessed Mother will be present at the hour of death with the actual grace of final perseverance. When we fulfill this request, we may expect fruition of Our Lady’s promise; in addition, the salvation of sinners, and an era of peace for mankind. Please join us on the First Saturday of the month to experience this incredible devotion.