Homily: April 6, 2024, Saturday in the octave of Easter (First five saturday devotion.)

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Thank you all for continuing to come for Saturday morning Mass.

When I was little, my family used to attend Saturday morning Mass together and will always end with the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. To me, that is a beautiful devotion for the whole family.

I have wanted to start Saturday morning Mass when I first came to SAC but didn’t know if it will catch on with the parishioners. Last year, I attended an evening talk about Our Lady of Fatima at St. Augustine Parish and came to know about the First Five Saturday devotion, and I was again motivated.

Finally, today being the first Saturday of the month, we can begin. Let me share a bit more about this devotion.

Sr. Lucia was one of the three shepherd children visionaries to whom our Blessed Mother appeared for six months in 1917 in Fatima. Later when Lucia grew up and joined the convent in Spain, our Blessed Mother appeared to her again on December 10, 1925, with this message, “Behold, my daughter, my Heart encircled with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Give me consolation, you, at least, and make known on my behalf that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all who on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months confess their sins, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the purpose of making reparation to my Immaculate Heart.”

So, this devotion is purposed for the reparation of sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But why five Saturdays, not seven or nine?

In another vision when Jesus appeared to Sr. Lucia from May 29 to 30, 1930, our Lord explained further that the five first Saturdays correspond to the five kinds of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are:

1. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception.

2. Blasphemies against Mary’s virginity.

3. Blasphemies against her divine maternity, at the same time the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all men.

4. Instilling indifference, scorn, and even hatred towards the Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children.

5. Direct insults against her sacred images.

I am sure we know of people or communities who have always denied and rejected the honor we give to Mary; it is in fact a rejection of God’s work and salvific plan. Offences against the immaculate heart of Mary, are truly offences against the heart of God. So our devotion will move Jesus’ mercy for these souls who have offended our Lady.

So, how do we fulfil the Five First Saturdays which our Lady of Fatima requested?

1. Going to Confession (shortly before or after the First Saturday, so long as you receive Holy Communion in a state of grace)

2. Receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion

3. Reciting five decades of the Rosary sometime during the day

4. Meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary (one or more)

What would we receive if we practise this devotion? 

Our Lady promised Lucia that she will assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls. What more can we ask for? This is literally a shortcut to heaven.

So today will be our first month, we will complete the first five consecutive months in August. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.


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