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First Saturday Devotion

The First Saturday Devotion is a Catholic practice that originated from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. This devotion is performed on the first Saturday of five consecutive months and involves specific acts carried out with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Here’s what it entails:

Requirements#

  • Confession: Go to confession, following the norms for a plenary indulgence (Currently this is 20 days to either side of the Saturday.)
  • Holy Communion: Receive Holy Communion worthily on the day of (aka must be in the state of grace when received).
  • Rosary: Recite at least five decades of the Rosary, including meditating on its mysteries.
  • Meditation: Spending at least 15 minutes meditating on one or more of the Rosary mysteries separate to Praying the Rosary.

The devotion stems from a request made by the Virgin Mary during the Fatima apparitions to three shepherd children. She asked for this practice as a way to offer reparation for sins against her Immaculate Heart. Mary also promised that those who faithfully complete this devotion for five consecutive first Saturdays will receive special graces at the hour of their death. This practice remains an important tradition for many Catholics seeking to deepen their devotion to Mary.

Act of Reparation for the First Saturdays of the Month#

O Most Holy Virgin, and Our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your Immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promising a true devotion to Your Immaculate Heart.

We therefore kneel before You to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause You, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus Christ and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn you eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth and enjoy Him forever in Heaven.