The First Saturday Devotion

In the July 13, 1917 apparition at Fatima, Our Lady said, “I shall come to ask for…the Communion of Reparation on the first Saturdays.”  She came expressly to request this devotion when she appeared to Sister Lucia on December 10, 1925, in Pontevedra, Spain, where she was preparing to start her religious life.

The Motives for the Devotion
Later, while Sister Lucia was in the chapel with Our Lord during part of the night of May 29-30, 1930, He explained the motivation for the devotion. This explanation answered the question posed by her confessor about why the number should be 5 Saturdays and not 9 to correspond with the 9 First Fridays, or 7 to correspond with Our Lady’s 7 sorrows.
Our Lord responded that there are 5 ways that people offend and blaspheme against the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
1.  Offences or blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception – its denial and/or ridicule
2. Against her perpetual virginity
3. Against her divine maternity, refusing to accept her as the Mother of God and mother of all mankind
4. Those who implant in children’s hearts, indifference, contempt and even hate against our Immaculate Mother
5. Insults directed against her sacred images –displays of indifference or ridicule, and the infliction of damage to them.

The essential elements of the practice of First Saturday Communions of Reparation
With the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart for these five offenses, we are asked to:
1. Go to confession
2. Receive Holy Communion worthily
3. Pray five decades of the Rosary
4. Keep Our Lady company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary

The Great Promise
Our Lady promised to assist all those who will practice the devotion of the first Saturday on five consecutive months with the graces necessary for salvation at the hour of their death.

Promise not a guarantee of heaven
It would be a serious mistake to think that those who practice the devotion on five consecutive First Saturdays are guaranteed passage into heaven when the moment of their death arrives. Our cooperation with grace is always required.

A life-long devotion, not merely five First Saturdays
The promise associated with the practice of the devotion on five consecutive First Saturdays has been mistakenly construed by many to mean that, once one has completed a series of five, they have accomplished the devotion and are finished.  This was not Our Lady’s intention in making the promise, and has resulted in far fewer people practicing the devotion. Our regular practice of the First Saturdays is a sign of our devotion to the Immaculate Heart and a desire on our part to make reparation for the blasphemies against her.

First Saturday Devotion brochure

First Saturday Devotion trifold

First Saturday Devotion Resources
A more complete treatment of the devotion is available in a 12-page booklet titled The First Saturday Devotion.  At only $1.00 per copy, we hope you will consider distributing as many as you can to others.  If you would like to print a single copy for you own personal use, please click here: 1st Saturday Booklet for Personal Use.  Also available is a First Saturday trifold pamphlet for $.25 each.

A most complete and comprehensive treatment of the devotion with Rosary meditations is our First Saturday Aid booklet for $2.00