The First Five Saturdays Devotion: A Path to Marian Peace and Reparation

The First Five Saturdays Devotion is a powerful Marian practice rooted in the messages of Our Lady of Fatima. This devotion, which involves prayer, confession, and meditation on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, is a call to make reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to foster a deeper relationship with her Son, Jesus Christ. With its promises of grace and conversion, this devotion invites the faithful to join in Our Lady's mission to bring peace to the world.

Origins of the Devotion

The First Five Saturdays Devotion was revealed during the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. On July 13, 1917, Our Lady spoke to the three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—about the importance of devotion to her Immaculate Heart as a means to save souls and bring peace. She later appeared to Sister Lucia in 1925 at a convent in Pontevedra, Spain, where she elaborated on the specifics of this devotion.

Our Lady said:

“I promise to assist at the hour of death, with 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.”

Purpose of the Devotion

The First Five Saturdays Devotion is a response to the sins and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These offenses include:

Denial of her Immaculate Conception.

Denial of her perpetual virginity.

Denial of her role as Mother of God and Mother of all humanity.

Desecration of her sacred images.

Indifference or neglect in fostering love for Mary in the hearts of children.

This devotion seeks to repair these wounds by fostering love and honor for Mary and uniting her Immaculate Heart with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

How to Fulfill the Devotion

To complete the First Five Saturdays Devotion, the following steps are required on the first Saturday of five consecutive months:

Confession: Make a sacramental confession. This can be done within twenty days before or after the first Saturday.

Holy Communion: Receive the Eucharist in a state of grace, with the intention of making reparation to Mary.

Pray the Rosary: Recite at least five decades of the Rosary, meditating on the mysteries.

Meditate for Fifteen Minutes: Spend fifteen minutes reflecting on one or more of the mysteries of the Rosary, in addition to reciting it.

All actions must be performed with the specific intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Promises of the Devotion

Our Lady of Fatima made a profound promise to those who fulfill the First Five Saturdays Devotion:

Assistance at the Hour of Death: Mary will provide the graces necessary for salvation at the time of death for those who complete this devotion with sincerity and love.

This promise is a powerful incentive to embrace the devotion wholeheartedly, trusting in Mary’s intercession for our eternal salvation.

Spiritual Benefits

The First Five Saturdays Devotion not only brings us closer to Mary but also deepens our relationship with Christ. Some of the spiritual benefits include:

Growth in Grace: Frequent confession, Communion, and prayer cleanse the soul and foster virtue.

Peace of Heart: Devotion to Mary brings comfort and guidance in times of trial.

Strength in Faith: Reflecting on the mysteries of the Rosary strengthens our understanding of Christ’s life and mission.

Reparation for Sin: Participating in this devotion helps to atone for sins, both personal and communal.

The Message for Today

In a world marked by division, sin, and spiritual indifference, the First Five Saturdays Devotion remains a timely call for conversion and peace. Pope St. John Paul II, a devoted son of Mary, often emphasized the importance of Marian devotion in leading souls to Christ. He once said:

“In her maternal care, the Blessed Virgin teaches us how to trust in God even in the darkest of moments.”

By practicing the First Five Saturdays Devotion, we respond to Mary’s request for reparation and align ourselves with her mission to bring hearts back to God.

A Call to Action

The First Five Saturdays Devotion is not merely a personal practice but a powerful means of transforming the world. Through prayer, reparation, and devotion, the faithful can participate in Mary’s work of drawing souls to Christ and ushering in a reign of peace. Let us heed her call, honor her Immaculate Heart, and trust in her maternal intercession to guide us to the Sacred Heart of her Son.