Our Lady of Fatima: The Five First Saturdays Devotion
Our Lady promised to help us on our way to heaven. Learn about the powerful Five First Saturdays devotion and how to practice it.
By CandleFaith Team
At Fatima in 1917, Our Lady made a promise that has inspired devotion for over a century. She asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays as reparation for the sins against her Immaculate Heart.
The Message of Fatima
The Angel of Peace appeared to three shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—in 1916. Then, from May to October 1917, Our Lady appeared to them six times, delivering messages about prayer, penance, and the consecration of Russia.
The children's visions culminated in the Miracle of the Sun on October 13, 1917, witnessed by 70,000 people.
The Five First Saturdays
Our Lady requested:
On the first Saturday of five consecutive months:
- 1Go to confession
- 2Receive Holy Communion
- 3Say five decades of the Rosary
- 4Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary
All of this is to be done in reparation for the sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Why Saturday?
Saturday is the day traditionally associated with Mary:
- The Sabbath was the seventh day, but Mary's rest came after Christ's resurrection on Sunday
- Saturday honors her role as Queen of Martyrs and her Fiat at the Annunciation
The Promise
Our Lady made a stunning promise:
"My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that leads you to God. To souls who embrace this devotion, I promise to assist them at the moment of their death with the light and grace necessary for a holy death."
Confession and Communion
For the devotion to be properly fulfilled:
- Confession can be received 8 days before or after the first Saturday, if a person has a good reason
- Communion must be received on the actual first Saturday (or with intention if prevented by illness)
- The 15-minute meditation is required on the mysteries of the Rosary
Make It a Habit
Consider making the Five First Saturdays a regular devotion. It unites you with:
- Our Lady's requests at Fatima
- The children who suffered for the faith
- Countless souls worldwide who honor Mary's Immaculate Heart
Light a candle to Our Lady of Fatima and ask for her protection for yourself and the world.