Monsignor Pope is encouraging parishioners to commit to First Saturday devotions from April thru August. At the heart of this devotion is the Request of Our Lady, Mary, that we pray for the conversion of sinners and peace in the world. Your commitment involves attending 8am Mass in the church on the first Saturday of five consecutive months which began April 2nd. This Saturday July 2nd at 8am will be our fourth observance. Your commitment also includes praying the rosary communally after that Mass and going to confession within the first week of each month.
The History of the Five First Saturday’s of the Month
On the 13th May 1917, Our Lady first mentioned devotion to her Immaculate Heart to the children of Fatima saying “You have seen hell, where 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.”
On the 10th December 1925, Our Lady appeared to Lucia detailing how devotion to her Immaculate Heart was to be practiced. These words are from Sr Lucia’s own account:
“… by her side, elevated on a luminous cloud, was a child. The most holy Virgin rested her hand on her shoulder, and as she did so, she showed her a heart encircled by thorns, which she was holding in her other hand. At the same time, the Child said:
“Have compassion on the Heart of your most holy Mother, covered with 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 the most holy Virgin said:
“Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me 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 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 fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Join with us this month as we celebrate African-American History Month through the Spirituals. Each week, we will feature a historical perspective on the Spirituals and the role they have played in our faith journey in this country. In the flyers are links to videos and audio versions of the Spiritual – just click on the title or words of the song (if they are underlined).
