First Fridays
- Background
-
The First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was given to the French nun St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) by Jesus Himself in a series of private revelations between 1673 and 1675.
- Devotion
-
The devotion consists in receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month, completing a Holy Hour on Thursdays in which to contemplate the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart held on the third Friday after Pentecost.
- Promises
-
The following promises were given by Jesus to those faithful who devoutly practice this devotion:
- I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their homes.
- I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
- I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death.
- I will bestow a abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
- I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed 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 effaced.
- I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all 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.