First Friday & First Saturday Devotions – Consoling the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
For many Catholics, First Friday and First Saturday devotions are like a monthly “reset” for the soul: a chance to come back to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary with love, reparation, and hope. These devotions are simple, beautiful, and very needed in our times.
Where Do These Devotions Come From?
First Friday devotion is rooted in the revelations of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. Jesus showed her His Sacred Heart, burning with love for souls and yet so often met with coldness, indifference, and ingratitude. He asked for Communions of reparation on the first Friday of nine consecutive months, promising many graces to those who respond with love.
First Saturday devotion comes from Our Lady’s requests at Fatima. The Blessed Virgin Mary showed the shepherd children her Immaculate Heart, surrounded by thorns placed there by blasphemies and ingratitude. She asked for Communions of reparation on five consecutive first Saturdays, together with the Rosary and a brief meditation on its mysteries.
Both devotions have one goal: to console the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, to make reparation for sin, and to deepen our love.
What Is the First Friday Devotion?
The traditional elements of the First Friday devotion include:
Receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months
With the intention of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Often preceded by Confession, especially if needed to receive Our Lord worthily
Many Catholics also add:
A visit to the Blessed Sacrament
Acts of love and reparation, such as the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart or other prayers
Time spent in quiet adoration or silence before Our Lord in the tabernacle
Even in parishes where there is no public First Friday Mass, faithful can still unite themselves spiritually to this devotion: by making a special visit to the church if possible, or by offering their day, prayers, and sacrifices in reparation to the Sacred Heart.
At St. Catherine of Siena, we do not currently have a First Friday Mass, but we invite you to keep this intention in your prayers, that in God’s time we may be able to offer First Friday Masses here in the future.
What Is the First Saturday Devotion?
The First Saturday devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary typically includes:
Confession (within about 8 days before or after the First Saturday)
Holy Communion received in a state of grace on the First Saturday
Praying the Rosary (five decades)
Fifteen minutes of meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary, in addition to the recited decades
All of this done with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Our Lady promised great graces for those who complete this devotion for five consecutive First Saturdays. But beyond the promise, First Saturdays form a beautiful monthly habit of going to Our Lady, learning from her, and letting her bring us closer to Jesus.
At St. Catherine of Siena, we are blessed to have First Saturday Mass at 9:00 a.m. We encourage families, couples, and individuals to come:
Prepare with a good confession
Receive Holy Communion with love
Stay to pray the Rosary and spend a few minutes in silent meditation
After Mass, we also welcome helping hands for light church cleaning, as a small act of love for the house of God.
Why These Devotions Matter Today
We live in a time of great confusion, coldness, and indifference toward God. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary invite us to respond not with fear or anger, but with reparation and love.
First Fridays and First Saturdays:
Help us stay close to the sacraments regularly
Foster a spirit of penance, gratitude, and reparation
Strengthen families who choose to keep these devotions together
Deepen our love for the Holy Eucharist and the Rosary
Support the life of the parish and the Traditional Latin Mass by uniting our personal prayer with the Church’s public worship
How to Begin
If you’ve never practiced these devotions before, start simply:
Mark the first Fridays and first Saturdays on your calendar.
Plan to go to confession, receive Communion, and stay for a little extra time with Our Lord or Our Lady.
Make it a family tradition: explain to children that you are visiting the Hearts of Jesus and Mary to love them, thank them, and ask forgiveness for sins.
In our parish bookstore, you will find booklets and reading materials that explain the First Friday and First Saturday devotions in more detail, along with prayers you can say at home or in church. Stop by before or after Mass and pick something up to help you begin or deepen these beautiful practices.
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary draw many souls from our parish closer to themselves through these devotions, and may they bless our families and our church.
