Saturday - "Mary's Day" because

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

There are many reasons which go way back in our Catholic Faith’s history, accounting for Saturday being “Mary’s Day”. The University of Dayton has done incredibly vast research on everything to do with Marian devotion and you can read more on the ancient tradition of dedicating Saturdays to Mary HERE.

For me there are two primary reasons why I like to keep Saturdays as “special” days of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1. After Jesus’ Body had been taken down from the Cross, after His death on Calvary, Mary faithfully awaited His Resurrection, keeping vigil on the First Saturday after His death. Mary’s Heart was by God’s Grace enabled to endure suffering and not be overcome by it, for she believed in the power of her Son, the Word Incarnate, to rise from the dead.
2. Jesus desires reparation not only to His Sacred Heart for all the sins we have committed but He also desires reparation for the offenses against Mary’s Immaculate Heart. He revealed His dsires for First Friday Reparation to St. Margaret Mary, and both Jesus and Mary appeared to Sister Lucia of Fatima to ask for First Saturday reparation.

This coming Friday and Saturday, with be the First Friday and First Saturday of February. I hope many will participate in this devotion of First Fridays and First Saturdays of Reparation. The world seems to be drifting further and further away from God and we need to pray more than we have ever prayed before, through the intercession of Jesus and Mary, and with them to our Father in heaven.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

 

[Vico]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,…There are many reasons which go way back in our Catholic Faith’s history, accounting for Saturday being “Mary’s Day”. …
Mary faithfully awaited His Resurrection, keeping vigil on the First Saturday after His death …
Mary appeared to Sister Lucia of Fatima to ask for First Saturday reparation …

In the Byzantine Catholic church, and in other eastern traditions, Saturday is the day of commemoration especially for All Saints, the reset of the departed, and the original creation. It is the day that Our Lord rested in the tomb when they keep the Sabbath awaiting the resurrection of all. The fifth Saturday of Lent, is specifically called Akathistos Saturday and the Akathist to the Mother of God (Theotokos) is done. (Note that this is also an indulgenced prayer of the Catholic Church.) From the Akathist:

Ikos 9: O Theotokos, we see the best of speakers become as mute as fish in your
regard, for they could not explain how you could give birth while remaining a virgin.
As for us, while marveling at the mystery, we cry out to you with faith:
knowl edge to man y!

Re joice, O Container of God’s wis dom;
Re joice, O Treasury of his prov i dence!
Re joice, O Reproof of fool ish phil os o phers;
Re joice, O Confu sion of speech less wise men!
Re joice, for you perplexed the in quis i tive minds;
Re joice, for you dried up the in ven tors of myths!
Re joice, for you ripped the A the ni ans’ mesh es;
Re joice, for you filled the fish er men’s nets!
Re joice, O Retriever from the a byss of ig nor ance;
Re joice, O Lamplight of knowl edge to man y!
Re joice, O Ship for those who seek sal va tion;
Re joice, O Harbor for the sail ors of life!

Chant refrain

Re joice, O Bride and Maid en ev er pure
Re joice, O Bride and Maid en ev er pure!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Vico,

Thanks again for sharing with us the beautiful liturgy of the Eastern rite. How beautiful it is to praise God’s marvelous work in Mary and to pray to her that we may become humble as she is and open ourselves to the wonders He can work in us!!