FAQ about First Saturdays

1. Would an extra rosary of about 15 minutes fulfill the request of the 15 minutes of meditation in company with Our Lady?

It would seem, if fruitfully meditated, that it would. Or the time could be spent reading meditatively on one of the 15 mysteries, which is a form of mental prayer that involves reading with frequent pauses to reflect on the matter read.

2. When or where the rosary should be said?

The five decades of the rosary may be recited at any time or place; yet, since one will be attending Mass in order to receive Holy Communion, a very desirable time and place would be before, after or even during Mass in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Meditation on the mysteries according to one’s capacity is an essential condition for praying the rosary. Yet, involuntary distractions do not rob the rosary of fruit if one is doing the best he can.

3. What happen if one forgets to form the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary when making the confession?

Should one forget to form the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it may be formed at the next Confession, occasion to go to Confession being taken at the first opportunity.

4. Should the meditation embrace one or more mysteries?

The meditation embraces one or more mysteries; it may even include all, taken together or separately, according to individual attraction or devotion; one can meditate on one mystery each month.

5. Is assisting at Mass a requirement of the five first Saturdays?

No, and this is very consoling for the sick; this devotion can be completed from their home.

6. Are the five Saturdays consecutive ones?

Yes, it must be five consecutive first Saturdays. The idea of the five first Saturdays is obviously to make us persevere in these devotional acts for this period of time, and to overcome the initial obstacles. Once this is done, Our Lady knows that the person will, if he faithfully cooperates with her grace, become attracted to her pure and Immaculate Heart, and persevere in practicing such devotion on all first Saturdays, laboring thereby at his own personal sanctification, and for the salvation of others.

7. Can this devotion of the first Saturdays be made on Sunday?

Regarding the difficulty of fulfilling the reparatory Communion on Saturday, Our Lord answered Sr. Lucy on May 29, 1930: “The practice of this devotion will be equally acceptable on the Sunday following the first Saturday when my priests, for a just cause, allow the faithful.”

This way, not only the Communion, but also the recitation of the rosary and the meditation on the mysteries can be made on Sunday, and for just reasons (work, school, sickness, distance or other…) which can be judged by the priest.

8. Can one make the 15 minutes of meditation during Mass?

The bishop of Leiria answered this question as Lucy wrote in 1939. “As Holy Mother the Church allows various obligatory prayers, such as one’s penance for Confession, etc., to be recited during Mass and the precept is fulfilled, so it is in this case.”