The Nine First Fridays

[maximillion]

Does anyone do the Nine?

 

Do folks know about it?

 

Is it still a practised devotion among Catholics?

 

 

 

The First Friday Devotions are a set of Catholic devotions to especially recognize the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and through it offer reparations for sins. In the visions of Christ reported by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century, several promises were made to those people that practiced the First Fridays Devotions, one of which included final perseverance.^[1]

According to the words of Christ through His apparitions to St. Margaret Mary, there are several promises to those that practice the First Friday Devotions:

"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."^[2]

The devotion consists of several practices that are performed on the first Fridays of nine consecutive months. On these days, a person is to attend Holy Mass and receive communion.^[3] If the need arises in order to receive communion in a state of grace, a person should also make use of the Sacrament of Penance before attending Mass. In many Catholic communities the practice of the Holy Hour of meditation during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the First Fridays is encouraged. ^[4]

[OnlySunshine]

I keep trying to do it but something inevitably comes up where I am unable to participate.  :(

 

My patron saint this year is St. Margaret Mary and I have a devotion to the Sacred Heart but I've never done the First Friday devotion.  I hope to be able to go in March and then continue.

[maximillion]

I hope you manage to do it, it's a lovely devotion......