One of the most amazing apparitions of Our Lady occurred 100 years ago in the small town of Fatima, Portugal. Three young shepherd children saw Mary appear on the 13th of each month from May to October, 1917. Our Lady asked them to say the Rosary every day and to bring peace to the world and to bear sufferings in reparation for the conversion of sinners. She also asked for the First Five Saturdays devotion. On the first Saturday of each month, for five months, she asked faithful Christians to:

  • Go to Confession
  • Receive Holy Communion worthily
  • Pray five decades of the Rosary
  • Keep Our Lady company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.
All of these acts should be done with the intention of making reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She told Lucia (one of the children), “I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess; receive Holy Communion; recite five decades of the Rosary; and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.” Confession does not have to be done exactly on that day provided that the person is in the state of grace (not conscious of grave sin).

Most parishes do not offer a Saturday morning Mass. I am adding special First Saturday Masses from May through October in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. I encourage you to find a Mass in your area so you can participate in this devotion. If you cannot attend Saturday morning Mass, Saturday evening is also sufficient for the devotion. Mary will accept any gift from a loving and generous heart. In a world full of violence, darkness, and unbelief, we often feel powerless to shine the light of faith. But Our Lady of Fatima reminds us that every act of faith, hope, love, and sacrifice makes a positive difference.

Let your light shine!

I encouge you to learn more about Fatima by visiting the World Apostolate of Fatima https://wafusa.org/the-story-of-fatima/