About the First Friday Devotion
The First Friday devotion began from the private revelations of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century.
Jesus Promised, “In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.”
St. Margaret Mary mentioned, “He has, moreover, promised his unworthy slave that, if she gives herself over completely to loving Him, He Himself will pray to his Father for those who recommend themselves to her prayers. How can I ever enumerate, my dear Mother, all the mercies of this loving Heart? Notwithstanding my ingratitude, He has never shown me greater or more wonderful ones. I consider myself nothing but an obstacle to the furthering of his glory and to the imparting of his graces to souls because of the tepid life I lead.”
Jesus revelaed to the saint: “I thirst, and with so burning a thirst to be loved by men in the Blessed Sacrament, that this thirst consumes me and I find nobody who tries according to my desire to quench my thirst by making a special return to my love.”
Prayer before an Image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, pour out Your benedictions upon the Holy Church, upon its priests, and upon all its children. Sustain the just, convert the sinners, assist the dying, deliver the souls in purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Your love. Amen.
How to complete the First Friday’s Devotion?
To fulfill the requirements of the Nine First Fridays, you must do the following on the first Friday of every month for nine months in a row:
- Attend Holy Mass: Participate in the Eucharistic celebration on each First Friday.
- Receive Holy Communion: This is the core of the devotion. You must receive the Eucharist with the intention of honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus and making reparation for the indifference of the world towards the Sacred Heart.
- Go to Confession: While you don’t necessarily have to go on the Friday, you must be in a state of grace when you receive Communion. Many people choose to go to Confession a few days before or on the day itself.
- Nine Fridays must be consecutive: If you miss a month for any reason, you have to start the count over from month one.
- Optional: Spend an hour worshiping and adoring Jesus in the Holy Euchrist, Recite Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will give peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their troubles.
- I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
- I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid (Lukewarm) souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
- I will bless those places wherein the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
- I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
- Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
- In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
Church Grants Plenary indulgence
The Church grants a Plenary indulgence to those who attend Holy Mass and receive Communion worthily in honor of The Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. (The conditions for plenary indulgence like confession, praying for pope’s intention, etc, apply.)
Tips for Staying Consistent and Completing the Nine First Fridays
Here are a few practical tips to help you reach the finish line:
- Mark Your Calendar: Set a recurring reminder on your phone or mark a physical wall calendar for the entire year.
- Preparation is Key: Check your local parish schedule ahead of time, as some churches offer special evening Masses or Holy Hours specifically for First Fridays.
- Prepare for Confession: To ensure you are in State of Grace, make confession before the Holy communion.
Jesus Reveals to St. Margaret Mary about the Agony and Love of his Sacred Heart
In December, 1673
“My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for men, and for you in particular that, being unable any longer to contain within Itself the flames of Its burning Charity, It must needs spread them abroad by your means, and manifest Itself to men in order to enrich them with the precious graces of sanctification and salvation necessary to withdraw them from the abyss of perdition. I have chosen you as an abyss of unworthiness and ignorance for the accomplishment of this great design, in order that everything may be done by Me.”
In 1674
“I feel this more than all that I suffered during My Passion. If only they would make Me some return for My Love, I should think but little of all I have done for them and would wish, were it possible, to suffer still more. But the sole return they make for all My eagerness to do them good is to reject Me and treat Me with coldness. Do you at least console Me by supplying for their ingratitude, as far as you are able.”
In June, 1675
“Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in the Eucharist. But what I feel most keenly is that it is hearts which are consecrated to Me that treat Me thus. Therefore, I ask of you that the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi be set apart for a special Feast to honour My Heart, by communicating on that day, and making to It a solemn act in order to make amends for the indignities which It has endured during the time It has been exposed on the altars. I promise you that My Heart will expand Itself to shed in abundance the influence of Its Divine Love upon those who shall thus honour It, and cause It to be honoured.”
Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus
O my Most Loving and Gentle Jesus, I desire with all the affections of my heart, that all beings created and uncreated, should praise Thee, honor Thee and glorify Thee eternally for that sacred wound wherewith Thy divine side was rent. I deposit, enclose, conceal in that wound and in that opening in Thy Heart, my heart and all my feelings, thoughts, desires, intentions and all the faculties of my soul.
I entreat Thee, by the precious Blood and Water that flowed from Thy Most Loving Heart, to take entire possesion of me, that Thou may guide me in all things. Consume me in the burning fire of thy holy Love, so that I may be so absorbed and transformed into Thee that I may no longer be but one with Thee. Amen.
Prayer of Trust in The Sacred Heart
In all my temptations, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my weaknesses, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my difficulties, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my trials, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my sorrows, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In all my work, I place my trust in You, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In every failure, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In every discouragement, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In life and in death, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In time and in eternity, I place my trust in Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus
