Please don't forget this week is First Friday and First Saturday! This is what Our Blessed Mother told us through Fr. Gobbi (MMP): "These are the hours of battle, and therefore, those weapons which I have prepared especially for you musta be made use of: -The Consecration to my Immaculate Heart -The frequent recitation of the Holy Rosary -and the practice of the first five Saturdays of the month in reparation for those offenses committed against my motherly Heart. During these Saturdays, I invite you to unite yourselves with me in the prayer of the Rosary, in the meditation of its mysteries, in confession, in taking part in Holy Mass and in a communion of reparation. To my daughter, Sister Lucy, I promised special protection at the moment of death and to obtain the graces necessary for salvation for all my children who, harking to my requests, will have devoutly carried out the practice of the five first Saturdays. At this time, when the danger of being eternally lost is so grace, bring souls to safety by entrusting them to the particular protection of your heavenly Mother" #180.
lynnfiat, My heart aches so because during the last four years of Deacon formation, our classes have, in part, been held from 8am-7pm on first Saturdays. Thus, I have not made this devotion since 2014! I can't wait for ordination next May. Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
Don't forget the 3rd August is the Portiuncular Indulgence promised through Saint Francis. If we make a good Confession, attend Holy Mass and receive Eucharistic Jesus. We can get a clean slate, meaning forgiveness for sins along with Purgatorial requirement that may remain if we are unable to repair the damage or scars remaining on our souls as a result of our faults and failings after absolution. And I think it is always a good holy insurance to say a prayer for Holy Father, when we ask for these extraordinary Graces. The same clean slate as we are promised when we fulfil the requirements of a good Confession, and Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday each year. We are so spoiled by our adorable loving God, it is beyond our comprehension. We just need to ask. Praised be Jesus and Mary. Mario. I believe if you ask dear Jesus to redo all the years you have not been able to make the First Saturday devotions to console the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Jesus will apply all the Graces you would lovingly have gained, as if you had indeed done every First Saturday during that period of time. I think it is done 'in the Divine Will.' And I am sure Lynnfiat will enlighten us, if I have misunderstood this Divine Generosity. Jesus would do great things for His earthly mammy, our Heavenly Mammy. We can ask, and hope in charity.
I believe it is 2nd August, Julia. https://www.capuchinfriars.org/news/36-portiuncula-indulgence.html
Don't forget your 15 minute meditation for First Saturday. A First Saturday Meditation Meditation of the Presentation During the Mass, I become a Bethlehem. The cave where Jesus is to be born is inside my heart. I try to prepare a place fit for Him to be born, but it is cold and dark inside, and yet, He chooses to be born here. Upon His arrival, my cave becomes all Light and the darkness and cold within disappear. Mother Mary wraps Him tightly in my heart as She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. The Lord is now with Me! I go to bring Him to others. It is time to present Him to God the Father; I bring Him within me to the temple (the Mass) to present Him to the Father. He leaves my heart as He leaves the arms of Our Mother to e placed in the arms of Simeon (the Priest). Simeon takes Him into his arms and blesses God. (My eyes have seen your salvation which you prepared in sight of all the peoples. “My eyes look at Jesus in the Eucharist – our salvation – prepared in sight of all the people at the Mass. Then Jesus is given back to me as Simeon handed Him back to Mary. This “sign that will be contradicted” is now with me. As I carry Him with me, I know that I too become a sign of contradiction.
What a wonderful First Saturday today. We had a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary who were married in our Church and took theirs vows again to one another. It was very touching, beautiful and such a blessing to be there with them for this day shared together in reparation and honor of Our Holy Mother.
Also, remember that today is the Birthday of Our Blessed Mother. This is from Fr. Rene' Laurentin: "At the end of May 1984, Jelena and Mirjana with whom I spoke on June 10 had received from the Virgin a call to celebrate August 5th as the 2,000 birthday of Her birth". In Jan Connell's book, Vision of the Children, she interviewed Mirjana who told her that Our Blessed Mother asked the children, "Do you know my real birthday is August the 5th? The children answered that they did not know this. Then the Blessed Mother asked them, "Would you children like to give me some presents?" She told them, "Tonight when you go home, no matter what your feelings tell you, no matter how you are stimulated, rather than speak the pain in your heart, run outside and look at the heavens and cry out 'It is all for love of you, dear Jesus." It is all for love of you, dearest Jesus!
This was a meditation I received during Adoration a few years ago. I have received several others that I will post when God Wills.
First Friday and First Saturday is upon us again Prayer Warriors and defenders of the Faith! We need prayer now and always of course but it seems the urgency is very very great so please if you have not taken part in First Saturdays before consider it now or even again for those that have.
Wow.. wasn't it just first Fri/Sat. last week!? Time flies when you're hurtling toward, well, whatever is coming. Prayers are crucial! Thanks for the reminder
A First Saturday meditation:: I was meditating on the Finding of Jesus in the Temple and the suffering of Mother Mary and Saint Joseph as they searched for three days for Jesus, and I thought about myself when I sometimes do not feel His presence - Oh how miserable I become! While pondering about Our Lady and St. Joseph going in search of Jesus, He spoke to me saying, “I did not leave them!” I immediately understood that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, but He did not go off leaving them – it was they who left Him. I knew that He was making me understand that it is never He who leaves us, but us who leave Him. And where is it that we will find Him? - In the Temple (the Church) and in the Temple of our hearts where He dwells.” After this meditation, I picked up the Book of Heaven, Vol. 17, pg. 73, and read, “I do not leave you – no, no. This is an accusation you make against your Jesus. I never leave anyone! The creatures withdraw from Me, not I from them. Rather, I go behind them and next to them.”
At Mass this morning the Priest was relating a story to us about a trip he was taking to Sudan. He is not our Parish Priest but comes on First Saturdays. On the plane he met a group of people who were wearing T shirts with a christian slogan on them so he struck up a conversation with a few of them that were sitting nearby. They asked him why he worships Mary. He asks them do you love your mother? Yes they say. Do you honor your mother? Yes. Then why do you not honor the mother of Our Lord? Do you like it when people insult your mother? No. Do you think Our Lord does? He said after this the plane ride grew very quiet. After this during the Homily he went on to say; Those who do not know the Mother of Our Lord do not know Jesus. I could not agree more. Thank God for Priests who speak the Truth!
YES SgCatholic. Thank you. This was brought to my attention recently by a lady who goes to our Church. I have been making the intention for this Plenary Indulgence for a few years based on an incorrect date, sigh! So Julia has been knocking on Heavens door the wrong day, now wondering if it was all for nothing. Anyway, I hope Jesus sees the funny side of Julia's attempts to get to Heaven. I hope you will remind us next year God willing on the right day. Knowing Julia she will have forgotten again. 1st August it appears is the 'Chains of Peter,' to remember the day Saint Peter was released from jail by an Angel. Then 2nd August the Portiuncula Indulgence when Saint Francis of Assisi gained a promise from Jesus that if we make a good Confession, receive Eucharistic Jesus and pray for Holy Father, Jesus will wipe the slate clean of purgatorial purification that may still be required to make us ready to enter our Heavenly home. I am sorry if I have misinformed anyone about the date. But like the lady at our Church, ScCatholic looked it up and gave us the correct date as a result. God Bless and take care of everyone here. And Blessed Mother, please bring us all home safe to Heaven one day. Amen.
A friendly reminder that First Friday and First Saturday are at our door once again. I hope to join you all in prayer and meditation in the sanctuary.
Thank you for the reminder Don! Come on everyone who has been putting off getting these done. Please do them before you are unable to. Heaven has asked us to do them and has promised great graces as a result.
Yes, and soon I will be able to take part fully in the Sacraments as well. Carol and I will be confirmed this January. To be followed by our daughters on Easter. Please keep us in your prayers while we too pray for all of you.
