Aug. 6 - "First Saturday"/Feast of Transfiguration

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have another “confluence” of dates on the liturgical calendar, which can give us some insights into the beauty of God’s Plan. Today’s Feast of the Transfiguration, as we read in the Gospel for today’s Mass gives us the words of Our Father to Peter, James and John on the mountain, after they have seen the Lord transfigured before their eyes. A cloud covers them and they hear the Father say: “This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him”.

Today is also the First Saturday of August, the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There was no need for Mary to be there to see the transfiguration or to hear the Voice of God. Mary had already “seen” by her faith, the Glory of God shining on the Face of her Son. She had already “heard” with the ears of her heart, the Father’s Words through the Angel Gabriel. She had listened and obeyed the Truth she continued to hear from Jesus.

Not only did Mary listen to the Word of God and obey Him herself, but she worked with her Son to share the Good News of God’s Love, going with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, bringing the Incarnate Word in her womb, to both Elizabeth and Baby John. When Jesus began His ministry Mary was with Him, to say to the Wedding servants of Cana: “Do whatever He tells you”. Mary continues to be Mother and Model for the Church.

First Saturdays give us an opportunity to offer reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the blasphemies hurled against her, especially in these days. Jesus requested devotion to the Immaculate Heart of His Mother, when He appeared with Mary to Sister Lucia of Fatima:

Eight years after the Fatima events, when Sister Lucy was living in a convent in Pontevedra, Spain, she experienced another apparition of Our Lady. On the 10th of December 1925 Our Blessed Lady appeared to her in Pontevedra, with Her Child in a cloud of light. The Child said: “have mercy on the heart of your Blessed Mother, it is surrounded with thorns with which the ungrateful people still continue to pierce it. Continually piercing Her heart with nobody removing the thorns by acts of restitution”. Then Our Blessed Lady said: “My daughter, see My heart surrounded by thorns with which the ungrateful people pierce it with their blasphemous language and ungratefulness.Will you try to comfort me and to make it known, that to all who have attended Mass on the first Saturday for five consecutive months, been to confession and received Holy Communion, prayed the rosary and kept Me company for fifteen minutes whilst contemplating the mysteries of the rosary, I shall grant them the mercy which they will need in their hour of death”.

Pondering both the Feast of the Transfiguration and the Five First Saturdays devotion, I’m reminded of how God is seeking to “transfigure” each of us, by His Grace. We who live at this time are witnesses to grave sins against God. Jesus and Mary suffered and so must we in this “valley of tears” for satan continues to wage war against us. (cf Rev. 12:17). In the Genesis 3, we heard of The Woman spoken of in Revelation and we know how much satan hates her. If we cannot participate in Mass and Holy Communion today, let us try to console our Mother by praying the Rosary and spending at least 15 minutes meditating on the Mysteries. Five first Saturdays of reparation were requested to atone for the five ways in which people offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1. attacks upon Mary’s Immaculate Conception
2. attacks against her Perpetual Virginity
3. attacks upon her Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind
4. for those who try to publicly implant in children’s hearts indifference, contempt and even hatred of this Immaculate Mother
5. for those who insult her directly in her sacred images.

God is Faithful. Let us, by His Grace, and as His children and children of Mary be faithful to Him and to Her.

 

[total_Catholic]

I started this devotion today.

I …
a)… went to Confession
b)… recited the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
c)… spent time meditating upon the Joyful Mysteries but I am not sure if it was the full 15 minutes. I didn’t wear a watch so as not to distract myself and the chapel has no clock
and d) I am going to Saturday Mass to receive Eucharist.

This was my 1st time doing this devotion. Hope I didn’t screw up.

 

[Memaw]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have another “confluence” of dates on the liturgical calendar, which can give us some insights into the beauty of God’s Plan. Today’s Feast of the Transfiguration, as we read in the Gospel for today’s Mass gives us the words of Our Father to Peter, James and John on the mountain, after they have seen the Lord transfigured before their eyes. A cloud covers them and they hear the Father say: “This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him”.

Today is also the First Saturday of August, the Month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There was no need for Mary to be there to see the transfiguration or to hear the Voice of God. Mary had already “seen” by her faith, the Glory of God shining on the Face of her Son. She had already “heard” with the ears of her heart, the Father’s Words through the Angel Gabriel. She had listened and obeyed the Truth she continued to hear from Jesus.

Not only did Mary listen to the Word of God and obey Him herself, but she worked with her Son to share the Good News of God’s Love, going with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, bringing the Incarnate Word in her womb, to both Elizabeth and Baby John. When Jesus began His ministry Mary was with Him, to say to the Wedding servants of Cana: “Do whatever He tells you”. Mary continues to be Mother and Model for the Church.

First Saturdays give us an opportunity to offer reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the blasphemies hurled against her, especially in these days. Jesus requested devotion to the Immaculate Heart of His Mother, when He appeared with Mary to Sister Lucia of Fatima:

Pondering both the Feast of the Transfiguration and the Five First Saturdays devotion, I’m reminded of how God is seeking to “transfigure” each of us, by His Grace. We who live at this time are witnesses to grave sins against God. Jesus and Mary suffered and so must we in this “valley of tears” for satan continues to wage war against us. (cf Rev. 12:17). In the Genesis 3, we heard of The Woman spoken of in Revelation and we know how much satan hates her. If we cannot participate in Mass and Holy Communion today, let us try to console our Mother by praying the Rosary and spending at least 15 minutes meditating on the Mysteries. Five first Saturdays of reparation were requested to atone for the five ways in which people offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1. attacks upon Mary’s Immaculate Conception
2. attacks against her Perpetual Virginity
3. attacks upon her Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind
4. for those who try to publicly implant in children’s hearts indifference, contempt and even hatred of this Immaculate Mother
5. for those who insult her directly in her sacred images.

God is Faithful. Let us, by His Grace, and as His children and children of Mary be faithful to Him and to Her.

Amen! I have belonged to the Blue Army,(World Apostolate of Fatima), since the early 70’s, have worn the Brown Scapular for as many years and made the 5 First Saturdays every month since then.
And I am also old enough to see that many of the things Our Lady warned us about are now upon us. We desperately need to learn the TRUE message of Fatima and do as She asked us. World Apostolate of Fatima.com God Bless, Memaw

 

[MariaChristi]

Amen! I have belonged to the Blue Army,(World Apostolate of Fatima), since the early 70’s, have worn the Brown Scapular for as many years and made the 5 First Saturdays every month since then.
And I am also old enough to see that many of the things Our Lady warned us about are now upon us. We desperately need to learn the TRUE message of Fatima and do as She asked us. World Apostolate of Fatima.com God Bless, Memaw

Thanks, Memaw, for your reply and for your love of Jesus and Mary.

 

[MariaChristi]

I started this devotion today.

I …
a)… went to Confession
b)… recited the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
c)… spent time meditating upon the Joyful Mysteries but I am not sure if it was the full 15 minutes. I didn’t wear a watch so as not to distract myself and the chapel has no clock
and d) I am going to Saturday Mass to receive Eucharist.

This was my 1st time doing this devotion. Hope I didn’t screw up.

Dear Total Catholic,

Wonderful!!! Thanks so much for sharing the grace you received to begin this beautiful Five First Saturdays Devotion. May others who read your reply be encouraged to begin or continue this devotion. How neglected our God and our Mother are in the world today! Jesus called His disciples His “little flock” and encourages us with His Words:

“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

God knows “the time” and more importantly He knows our hearts! Don’t worry, only continue to pray with trust in Him, always.

 

[total_Catholic]

Dear Total Catholic,

Wonderful!!! Thanks so much for sharing the grace you received to begin this beautiful Five First Saturdays Devotion. May others who read your reply be encouraged to begin or continue this devotion. How neglected our God and our Mother are in the world today! Jesus called His disciples His “little flock” and encourages us with His Words:

God knows “the time” and more importantly He knows our hearts! Don’t worry, only continue to pray with trust in Him, always.

I have scheduled the remaining 4 months to go to Confession 7 days before the 1st Saturday to be able to receive the Eucharist first thing. A local parish has a Sat morning Mass with confessions afterward.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[MariaChristi]

I have scheduled the remaining 4 months to go to Confession 7 days before the 1st Saturday to be able to receive the Eucharist first thing. A local parish has a Sat morning Mass with confessions afterward.

Thanks for the encouragement.

And thank YOU, dear total Catholic, for your cooperation with God’s Grace! Jesus and Mary are never "outdone in generosity! Thanks for your love and reparation given toTheir Pierced Hearts.

 

[total_Catholic]

And thank YOU, dear total Catholic, for your cooperation with God’s Grace! Jesus and Mary are never "outdone in generosity! Thanks for your love and reparation given toTheir Pierced Hearts.

I am just trying to be a better Catholic. That’s all. (God knows I need to be)

 

[MariaChristi]

I am just trying to be a better Catholic. That’s all. (God knows I need to be)

And I thank you for that! Only by cooperating with God’s Grace can any of us be “a better Catholic” – and I believe we all need to be!

All grace comes to us through Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Your willingness to offer reparation by the practice of the Five First Saturdays is a beautiful gift of grace not only to you from God but it is also your gift to Him and to His Church. As one member grows, we all grow. Sadly as one weak member refuses grace, the whole Body suffers some weakness.

Please let us continue to pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy. We need more “total Catholics” who are willing to begin anew each day, to live their faith and daily become “better Catholics”!

 

[total_Catholic]

And I thank you for that! Only by cooperating with God’s Grace can any of us be “a better Catholic” – and I believe we all need to be!

All grace comes to us through Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Your willingness to offer reparation by the practice of the Five First Saturdays is a beautiful gift of grace not only to you from God but it is also your gift to Him and to His Church. As one member grows, we all grow. Sadly as one weak member refuses grace, the whole Body suffers some weakness.

Please let us continue to pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy. ** We need more “total Catholics” who are willing to begin anew each day, to live their faith and daily become “better Catholics”**!

Trust me, nobody on this board needs to be more like me. Believe me. I just wanna have a better prayer life that’s all. (I don’t do compliments well. It’s nothing personal)

 

[MariaChristi]

Trust me, nobody on this board needs to be more like me. Believe me. I just wanna have a better prayer life that’s all. (I don’t do compliments well. It’s nothing personal)

Dear total Catholic,

I wasn’t referring to you “personally”. None of us needs to be anybody else! Each of us is created unique and unrepeatable. I was really trying to encourage you and all of us to keep striving by God’s grace to be “totally Catholic” i.e. to become holy as God is Holy. We have all been called to holiness by our Baptism and either we go forward or backward. There is no standing still in the spiritual life.

Our prayer life is our relationship with God, and you are absolutely right in aiming to grow in that relationship for we share in His Holiness, we participate in His Life, given in Baptism. God intends us to keep growing more and more in grace as Mary and all the saints have done. We can with all humility “compliment” God who works in us. Without Him, we can do nothing.

Please let us continue to pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy. Let us encourage one another whenever we can by speaking the Truth in love. By His Grace, may we daily build up His Body, the Church. (cf Eph 4:16)