Jan. 5 - First Saturday of 2019!

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, I wrote about First Friday and Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus HERE as an “add on” to my post of Jan 1.

Having spoken about Reparation to the Sacred Heart, I promised I’d write about Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary today. First Friday and First Saturday devotions used to be prevalent in days past, but many of us continue the practice and even if we cannot always participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion in Reparation for our sins and the sins of the world, we still can strive to make Acts of love to comfort the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

I am always touched by the account from Sister Lucia of Fatima, who shared the apparition of Jesus and Mary whcih she had in her convent in Spain, as a young postulant:

Lucia was a postulant in the Convent of St. Dorothy in Pontevedra, Spain when she had the apparition of our Blessed Mother. She was standing over a cloud of light with the Child Jesus at her side. The Blessed Virgin put one hand on Lucia’s shoulder, while her other hand sustained her Immaculate Heart that was surrounded with thorns. The Child Jesus said: "Have compassion on the Heart of your Blessed Mother. It is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce each moment, and there is no one that is willing to offer an act of reparation to take the thorns away."

Our Lady immediately said to Lucia: "Look, my daughter. My Heart is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce unceasingly with their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me and announce that for all those, who for five consecutive first Saturdays, confess, receive Holy Communion, pray the Holy Rosary and accompany me for 15 minutes by meditating the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the intention to do reparation, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with the graces needed for salvation."

The translation here from the original language of Lucia may differ slightly according to some translators. One translation I found to be sweet was instead of the words “accompany me” were the words “keep me company” for 15 minutes by meditating the mysteries of the Rosary. The words “keep me company” has a more “personal” and familiar meaning for me. Let us offer our dear Mother Mary the fullness of our love today with true contrition for our sins and the sins of the world and by God’s Grace resolve to do penance and amend our lives. Amen.