Nine First Fridays Devotion of Reparation to The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Starting this Friday, August 1st, the 9:00 AM Mass at St. Rose will be said for the Sacred Heart of Jesus on every first Friday of the month. This opportunity will allow all to practice the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
At the end of the 17th century Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (1647-1690) and asked her to spread devotion to His Most Sacred Heart. In a letter written to her Mother Superior in May 1688, St. Margaret Mary set out what is called The Great Promise Our Lord made regarding the Nine First Fridays and what we must do to earn it.
To meet the requirements for the First Friday Devotion one must, on each First Friday for nine consecutive months:
- Attend Holy Mass
- Receive Communion with intention of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the sinfulness and ingratitude of sinners who offend our Lord.
- Go to Confession anytime from the Friday before to the Friday after the first Friday.
Our Lord made these promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque regarding those who practice the Nine First Fridays and have a deep devotion to His Sacred Heart. The Twelve Promises listed below includes the “Great Promise.”
- I will give them all of the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their homes.
- I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
- I will be their strength during life and above all during death.
- I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
- Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
- I will bless every place where a picture of my heart shall be set up and honored.
- I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
- Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
- I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant all to those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
There will also be opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration, confession, and the litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be said as well during the first Friday of the month in order to allow a full participation in this devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus!