Remember First Fridays and First Saturdays?

Many of us might have heard our parents or grandparents mention the Five First Saturdays or Nine First Fridays devotions, and the associated graces. Some of us, perhaps, even have attempted or successfully fulfilled these, which consist of completing a series of prayers, sacraments and meditations for consecutive First Fridays or Saturdays of the month. 

But many more contemporary Catholics may never have heard of such prayers. And when was the last time you completed either one?

My mother was in town over Labor Day weekend for my son's fifth birthday party. As is my folks' custom, they attend daily Mass whenever possible. But especially this weekend, they wanted to get to Confession. How pleased they were to discover not only 8:00 AM Mass, but 7:30 AM Confessions and meditation prayers following Mass, thanks to our connection here at Saint John's to the Lay Carmelites: "How lucky you are to have a priest who makes it so easy to complete a First Saturday!" my mom exclaimed upon returning home.

My perpetually hope-filled mother did not intend this, but my Catholic guilt did kick in, as I knew I was already working on this blog about First Saturdays, and I also (sort of) knew it was easy to complete one here at Saint John's. But did I participate? And why not?

So reflecting on this, the idea of a "challenge" was born. I've motivated myself through the years to do some crazy things--riding a bike 200 miles in one day, reading 10 pages of a nonfiction book every day for 75 (it's harder than you might think!), why not challenge myself--and our congregation--to give the Five First Saturdays a go. And for that part, why not the Nine First Fridays (which precede First Saturday devotions and are arguably even easier to complete) a go as well?

So who will join me? Who will take a stab at completing five first Saturdays this year? If you start in October, the month of the Rosary, you will receive graces heading into Lent; start before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December, and you'll be done just in time for the month of Mary. Do them back to back, and you'll be done with First Fridays and First Saturdays by this time next year.

Want to try? I'll look for you on Saturday, October 1.

How To Complete the First Saturday Challenge
As an act of reparation for the sins of blasphemy against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, do the following: Go to Confession within the week. Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion. Say one full mystery of the Rosary (five decades). Reflect for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary. Do this every first Saturday of the month for five consecutive months.

Promises of a Successful Completion of the First Saturday Challenge
In addition to the abundance of graces granted to those who complete these wonderful prayers and sacraments, Our Lady told the young Lucia of Fatima as she was preparing for the religious life, "To all those who, on the First Saturday of five consecutive months … fulfill all the conditions requested, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their soul."

How To Complete the First Friday Challenge
Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion with the intention of honoring Christ’s Sacred Heart for nine consecutive First Fridays of the month. That's it! (If you are in a state of sin, you might also consider Confession, to ensure you can receive the Eucharist.) If you start in October, you will conclude in May. If you want to do one at a time, you'll complete both First Saturdays and First Fridays by this time next year!

Promises of a Successful Completion of the First Friday Challenge
Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, "In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour."

Here are some interesting reads done much better than I could do about First Fridays and First Saturdays:

What Is a First Saturday?

A Brief History of First Saturdays

5 Things Catholics Should Know About First Fridays

About Devotion to the Sacred Heart