First Saturday Devotion

At Fatima on 13 July 1917 the shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, were shown the vision of hell by Our Lady, who then said, so kindly and sadly: You have

seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many

souls will be saved and there will be peace ...  I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays ... In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world."
 On 10th December 1925, the Blessed Virgin appeared again to Lucia, with the Child Jesus. Mary rested her hand on Lucia’s shoulder, and showed her a heart encircled by thorns in her other hand. The Child Jesus spoke first:
"Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother. It is covered with the thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them."  Then Mary said:
"My daughter, look at My Heart surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me, and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."


THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DEVOTION
It signifies the intimate union of Mary’s Immaculate Heart with the Sacred Heart of her Son. Mary’s heart, “opened with the words, ‘Woman, behold your son’ (Jn 19: 26) is spiritually united with the heart of her Son, opened by the soldier’s spear”, Pope John Paul II taught in his homily at Fatima, on 13th May 1982.
In this devotion, Jesus Himself desires reparation for the sins which pierce His Mother’s sorrowful heart, maternal symbol of her merciful love and desire for the salvation of all mankind in Him. If you practice this devotion, Mary promises to come with the “graces necessary for salvation” at the supreme moment of death.

The purpose for making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the First Saturday of the month as requested by Our Lady of Fatima is peace in the world and peace in the Church. First Saturday reparation is made to end punishment in the world for its crimes by means of war, hunger, and persecution of the Church and the Holy Father, the Pope. When Our Lady first announced the first Saturdays, she did not use the number “five”; She simply said “first Saturday” (July 13, 1917).



However, when Our Lady came on December 10, 1925, as a loving Mother of each individual child, She promised a bonus by interceding for our personal salvation if we make “Five Saturdays, consecutively”. Though Our Lady requested for five, endeavour to continue making the first Saturdays, if not for your personal gain, but at least for those wh o will not make it at all. It is recommended that all the Apostolate members make this devotion a continual monthly activity all year through. Our Lady’s request for peace and for the conversion of Russia, involves more than the collegial consecration of R ussia to Her Immaculate Heart by the Pope and World’s bishops. It requires our making communions of Reparation on the first Saturday.

Making five consecutive first Saturdays brings the special promise of our heavenly Mother to each of her children to intercede for their happy death in the state of grace. Having made five, we ought to continue to make the first Saturday throughout the year for peace in the world and peace in the church. The promise attached to the first Saturday devotion is for the individual. The promise attached to the first Saturday in general is for the world and the Universal Church.
The request for “five” was for the intentions of making reparations for five purposes. It is well to offer each deca de of the Rosary on first Saturdays for one of these intentions, in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for:

1. Blasphemies against Her Immaculate Conception.
2. Blasphemies against Her Perpetual Virginity.
3. Blasphemies against Her Divine Maternity (as Mo ther of God), by those who refuse at the same time to accept Her as the Mother of all mankind.
4. Blasphemies of those who openly seek to foster in the hearts of children, indifference or contempt and even hatred against our Immaculate Mother.
5. Blasphemies of those who insult our Blessed Mother in Her Statues (Holy Images).

Conditions for Making the First Saturdays
Below is what each member is to fulfil on each first Saturday: 1. Pray five decades of the Rosary in Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
2. Meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary , for at least 15 minutes in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (The. meditations provided in this Manual or in any good Catholic book can be used). This should be done before the Hail Holy Queen, after the re citation of the Rosary . The meditations can also be done after the announcing of each mystery. If after the Rosary and Meditation, 30 minutes have not expired, extra meditations/readings from other mysteries not used while praying the Rosary can then be us ed, until 30 minutes is finally attained. If one intends to say more than 5 decades, maybe 15 or 20 decades, then, you can read meditatively the meditations for 10 decades while praying the Rosary, then say the last 5 or 10 praying decades without reading the meditations. A sample meditation on the mysteries suitable for reparation to the Immaculate Heart
3. Receive Our Divine Lord worthily in Holy Communion in Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
4. Make a good confession for the first Saturday on the Saturday itself or within the week before or after the Saturday, also in Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
One must however, be in the state of grace, free from mortal sin, when receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion on the first Saturday

Suggested Programme for the First Saturday Devotion

1. Opening hymn and opening prayer to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
V. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created R. And Thou shall renew the face of the earth

Let Us Pray O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, didst instruct the heart of the faithful, grant that in the same spirit we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

V. Thou O Lord will open our lips R. And our tongues shall announce Thy praise V. Incline unto our aid, O Lord R. O Lord, make haste to help us V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

2. The First Saturday Prayer

(To be said on the first Saturday at the beginning of the devotion)
Most Holy Virgin and Beloved Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of thy Immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns which ungrateful men place therein every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Moved by the ardent desire of loving Thy Immaculate Heart, we prostrate ourselves at your feet, to prove the sorrow we feel fo r the grievances that men cause thee; and to atone, by means of our prayers and sacrifices, for the offences with which men return thy tender love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from thee will obtain grace and amendment for us all. Hasten, O Lord, the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord already so much offended, so that they may not fall into hell. Turn thine eyes of mercy towards us that henceforth we may love God with all our heart, while on earth and enjoy forever in heaven. Amen.

The 3 basic Fatima Prayers

The Angel’s Prayer: Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly, I offer thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which he is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg for the conversion of poor sinners (3 times).


Eucharistic Prayer: Most Holy Trinity, I adore you. My God, my God, I love you in the Most Blessed Sacrament (3 times).

Pardon Prayer: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love you (3 times).


3. Pray five decades of the Rosary while reflectively reading the relevant mystery, mentioning that it is all in Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. You are free to say more than 5 decades or the whole 20 decades, if time permits.

4. Litany of the B lessed Virgin Mary.


V. Lord Have Mercy

R. Lord Have Mercy

V. Christ Have Mercy

R. Christ Have Mercy

V. Lord Have Mercy

R. Lord Have Mercy

V. Christ Hear Us

R. Christ Graciously Hear Us

God the Father of Heaven

- Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World

- Have mercy on us

God the Holy Spirit

- Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity One God

- Have mercy on us

Holy Mary

- Pray for us

Holy Mother of God

- Pray for us

Holy Virgin of Virgins

- Pray for us

Mother of Christ

- Pray for us

Mother of the Church

- Pray for us

Mother of Mercy

- Pray for us

Mother of Divine Grace

- Pray for us

Mother of Hope

- Pray for us

Mother most pure

- Pray for us

Mother most chaste

- Pray for us

Mother inviolate

- Pray for us

Mother undefiled

- Pray for us

Mother most lovable

- Pray for us

Mother most admirable

- Pray for us

Mother of Good Counsel

- Pray for us

Mother of our Creator

- Pray for us

Mother of our Saviour

- Pray for us

Virgin most prudent

- Pray for us

Virgin most venerable

- Pray for us

Virgin most renowned

- Pray for us

Virgin most powerful

- Pray for us

Virgin most merciful

- Pray for us

Virgin most faithful

- Pray for

Mirror of justice

- Pray for

Seat of wisdom

- Pray for

Cause of our joy

- Pray for

Spiritual vessel

- Pray for

Vessel of honour

- Pray for

Singular vessel of devotion

- Pray for

Mystical Rose

- Pray for

Tower of David

- Pray for

Tower of Ivory

- Pray for

House of Gold

- Pray for

Ark of the Covenant

- Pray for

Gate of heaven

- Pray for

Morning star

- Pray for

Health of the sick

- Pray for

Refuge of sinners

- Pray for

Solace of Migrants

- Pray for

Comfort of the afflicted

- Pray for

Help of Christians

- Pray for

Queen of Angels

- Pray for

Queen of Patriarchs

- Pray for

Queen of Prophets

- Pray for

Queen of Apostles

- Pray for

Queen of Martyrs

- Pray for

Queen of Confessors

- Pray for

Queen of Virgins

- Pray for

Queen of All Saints

- Pray for

Queen conceived without original sin

- Pray for

Queen assumed into heaven

- Pray for

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

- Pray for

Queen of Peace

- Pray for

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world


- Spare us O Lord

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world

- Graciously hear us O Lord

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world


- Have mercy on us

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ


Let us pray

Grant, we beseech thee, O God, that we your servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and possess eternal joy, through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen!



5. Act of Consecration of the human race to the Sacred Heart ofJesus

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy altar, we are thine, and thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with thee, behold eac h one of us freely consecrates himself today to thy most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known thee. Many too despising thy precepts have rejected thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus and draw them to thy Sacred Heart. Be thou king O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned thee.

Grant that they may quickly return to their father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be thou king of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions or whom discord keep aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be thou king of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn thine eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once thy chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the blood of the saviour, may it now descend upon them a layer of redemption and of life. Grant O Lord, to thy church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm, give peace and order to all nations and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine heart that wrought our salvation, to it be glory and honour forever, Amen.


6. Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Holy Virgin Mary, our dear Mother, in showing us your heart encircled with thorns, symbols of the blasphemies and ingratitude with which ungrateful men repay the tenderness of your love, you asked us to console you and to make reparation.

Therefore we humbly approach to make reparation to your Immaculate Heart, and in a special way to atone for the indignities directed towards your Immaculate Conception and holy virginity.

There are many who deny that you are the Mother of God, and will not accept you as the tender Mother of men. Others pour upon your sacred images their uncontrolled hate, or seek to instil in men’s hearts, especially in the hearts of innocent children, indifference and contempt towards you. Most holy Virgin we wish to show the sorrow we feel be cause of all these offences, and we promise to make repa ration with our sacrifices, Holy Communions and prayers for the sins of your ungrateful children.


Recognising that we ourselves do not always honour and love you as we should, we humbly ask your merciful forgiveness.


7. Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Virgin of Fatima, Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Refuge of Sinners we who belong to the Marian Movement consecrate ourselves in a very special way to your Immaculate Heart.

By this act of consecration we intend to live with you and through you, all the obligations assumed by our baptismal consecration. We further pledge to bring about in ourselves that interior conversion so urgently demanded by the Gospel, a conversion that will free us of every attachment to ourselves and to easy compromise with the world so that, like you, we may be available only to do always the will of the Father.

And as we resolve to entrust to you, O Mother most sweet and merciful, our life and vocation as Christians, that you may dispose of it according to your designs of salvation in this hour of decision that weighs upon the world, we pledge to li ve it according to your desires, especially as it pertains to a renewed spirit of prayer and penance, the fervent participation in the celebration of the Eucharist and in the Works of the Apostolate, the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary, and an austere manner of life in keeping with the Gospel, that shall be to all, a good example of the observance of the law of God and the practice of the Christian virtues, especially that of purity.

We further promise you to be united with the Holy Father, with the hierarchy and with our priests in order thus to set up a barrier to the growing confrontation directed against the Magisterium, that threatens the very foundation of the Church.

Under your protection, we want moreover to be apostles of this sorely needed unity of prayer and love for the Pope, on whom we invoke your special protection. And lastly, in so far as is possible, we promise to lead those souls with whom we come in contact to a renewed devotion to you.
Mindful that atheism has caused shipwreck in the faith to a great number of the faithful, that desecration has entered into the holy temple of God, and that evil and sin are spreading more and more throughput the world, we make so bold as to lift our eyes trustingly to you, O Mother of Jesus and our merciful and powerful Mother, and we invoke again today and wait from you the salvation of all your children, O Clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. (With ecclesiastical approval).


MEMORARE Remember O most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother, to Thee I come, before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful, O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.


WE FLY TO YOUR PROTECTION/PATRONAGE We fly to your protection, O Holy Mary Mother of God, despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever Gracious and Blessed Virgin Mary.

V. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

R. Amen.