10.02.2009

First Fridays Devotion: What Catholics Believe

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Hello to My Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the first Friday in the month of October, 2009. Catholics have a tradition known as the Nine First Fridays Devotion to the Sacred Heart.
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Well, what is that some you may be asking? Here is quoted information provided by Catholic Culture.com and a direct link is provided for you below.
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From the writings of St. Margaret Mary:
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"On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."

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With regard to this promise it may be remarked:

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(1) that our Lord required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him;
(2) that the nine Fridays must be consecutive;
(3) that they must be made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for our Lord;
(4) that our Lord does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to those who make the nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and persevere to the end;
(5) that perseverance in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Firdays helps the faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which our Lord eagerly desires; and
(6) that the practice of the nine Fridays is very pleasing to our Lord since He promises such great reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the nine Fridays.
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Prayer Source: Enthronment of the Sacred Heart by Rev. Francis Larkin, SS.CC., St. Paul Editions.
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=876

and here ia another link to The Devotion To The Sacred Heart of Jesus:

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http://www.catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/devotion12.htm

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Where your treasure lies there will you find your heart.
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in your wounds I find my consolation,
in your pierced heart I find a companion for my sorrows.
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in your heart's joy I find my contentment,
in your purity I find my hope.
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in the radiant light streaming from your heart my blindness disappears,
in your fiery love I am ablaze with awe.
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in your humiliation I can bear scorn from others,
in your longings I am fulfilled.
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in the blood and water which gushed forth from your lanced heart I am reborn in you,
you refresh my very being.
Forever beating in the love of the Holy Trinity is found your human heart,
authoring life and radiating eternal affection.
Would that I could find God's treasure,
it would be found in a humble and contrite heart.
You by your divinity know all things divine and
by your humanity you feel all things human.
By the mystery of your Sacred Heart,
you have united man to yourself forever.
Hold back nothing from me that could draw me
more completely into the deepest recesses of your heart.
Whether peace or distress, bliss or grief,
I accept all as an invitation to know you and love you more profoundly.
O Lord perfect me in your love, confirm me in your grace
and take delight in the richness of my surrender.
Where your treasure lies there will you find my heart.

Amen.

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"I promise you, in the excessive mercy of my heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment."
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The Twelve Promises for the Devotion to the Sacred Heart.for

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.
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Blessings,

~ bella

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for this wonderful information about the devotion of the First Fridays.

God bless you!

Anonymous said...

I visited your site to read about the nine first Fridays devotion. That information was excellent. What a treasure of good things is the rest of your site. I shall visit it often and many of the other sites noted through out your home page.

God Bless you!!

Steve in Amarillo, TX