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First Friday Devotion

First Friday Devotion: What’s so special about First Fridays?

Our parents grew up going to church every First Friday of the month and taking part in Sacred Heart devotions, but in recent decades the pious practice has fallen out of practice, and is dismissed by some as an “old-fashioned” anachronism.

A main reason for the decline in interest in this devotion is probably rooted in simple ignorance: people don’t know what First Fridays are all about; families and parishes may not have adequately passed down their importance to the next generation. Here are five things to know.

1. How did the First Friday Devotion begin? While saints have referenced the Heart of Jesus in their writings for centuries, the devotion spread quickly after St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s  visions of Jesus, wherein he asked the Church to honor His Most Sacred Heart. In particular, Jesus asked the faithful to “receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months.”
2. Why nine consecutive months? The number nine is traditionally associated with a novena and finds its origin in the nine days that the apostles spent in prayer before Pentecost. A novena provides an extended amount of time for preparation and interior renewal.
3. What am I supposed to do on First Fridays? Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion with the intention of honoring Christ’s Sacred Heart. If you are not in a state of grace, you will also need to go to confession.
4. What are the “promises” connected to this devotion? Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary, “In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.” This means that if a person faithfully receives communion for nine consecutive months on First Fridays, Jesus will grant that person extra graces at the time of their death, making it possible to repent of their sins and receive the last rites (if needed).
5. Are the First Fridays a “ticket” to heaven? It is not as simple as going to Mass for nine months and then clocking out, never going to Mass again and leading a sinful life! The entire purpose of this devotion is to draw a person closer to the heart of Christ. If a person fulfills these obligations with sincere faith, it is natural for he or she to be closer to God and better prepared for death. The moment that this devotion is observed in a superstitious manner, neglecting the need to live a virtuous life, all bets are off and Jesus’ promise is null and void.

Jesus wants us to rest on his heart, like St. John, and the First Friday devotion is an opportunity for us to encounter him more than just on Sundays and to deepen our love of him. Coming to know, love and trust that we may take rest in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and place our anxieties within, is what the First Fridays are all about.

First Saturday Devotion

The "First Saturdays of Reparation" (typically referred to simply as "First Saturdays") is not a new devotion, but it became even more popularized after Our Lady appeared at Fatima. It consists of, on the first Saturday of each month for five consecutive months:

• going to Confession (may be 8 days before the Saturday as long as one stays in a state of grace)
  
  
• attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist (within the 24 hours of the first Saturday of the month).
  
  
• praying 5 decades of the Rosary, including the Fatima Prayer
  
  
• "keeping Mary company" for 15 minutes while meditating on all of the Mysteries of the Rosary with the intention of making reparation to her. This can be done by reading Scripture or other writings relevant to the Mysteries, meditating on pictures of the Mysteries, or simple meditation.

The promise given by Mary to those who make the First Saturday devotion is her assistance at the hour of their death.

This article is a summary from one posted at Diocesan.com, pbgrace.com, and https://www.fisheaters.com/ih.html.

Lectio Divina - Praying with the Bible

Prayers for Use at Mass

Spiritual Communion Prayer	Anima Christi (Appropriate during Adoration)

 Eucharistic Adoration

Learn about Eucharistic Devotion

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