The First Saturday devotion, also known as the Five First Saturdays, is a Catholic practice that involves specific devotions on the first Saturday of five consecutive months. This devotion is linked to the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. The primary purpose is to make reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Here are the key components of the First Saturday devotions:
#1. Confession:
Participants are required to go to confession. The confession can be made within eight days before or after the First Saturday, with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
#2. Holy Communion:
Receive Holy Communion on the First Saturday itself. This act is meant to be an expression of reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
#3. Five Decades of the Rosary:
Recite five decades of the Rosary. The Rosary is a prayer that involves meditating on the mysteries of the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
#4. Meditation on the Mysteries of the Rosary:
Spend fifteen minutes in meditation on one or more of the mysteries of the Rosary. This meditation is separate from the recitation of the Rosary itself and is intended to deepen one’s reflection and connection with the mysteries.
Each of these acts must be performed with the specific intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, fulfilling the requests made by Our Lady of Fatima.
