"I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant all to those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment." -From Jesus to St. Margaret Mary
First Fridays are a beautiful tradition of the Church dating back to the 17th century. It is centered around a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an image that expresses the immense love that He has for His people. As the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, we want to bring an increased awareness of this devotion to our parishioners and the greater community.
First Friday Mass Times: 12:10 PM and 6:30 PM
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
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Sacred Heart of Jesus
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History of the First Friday Devotion
The "First Friday" of the month and is marked by a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus since Jesus died for us and won our salvation on a Friday. Every Friday of the year, and not only the Fridays in Lent, is a special day of penance as stipulated in the Code of Canon Law: “The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent” (Canon 1250).
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) reported visions of Jesus Christ directing her to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on nine consecutive First Fridays in reparation for sins and in order to show love to Jesus. In return for this act of devotion, which usually includes Mass, Communion, confession and even an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on the first Friday of the month, our blessed Savior reputedly promised St. Margaret Mary the following blessings:
“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.”
Fr. Francis Hoffman
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Feast Day: October 16
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was born in Burgundy, France in 1647 and from her early childhood years she had a devotion to the Eucharist. Her family life wasn't without difficulty as they suffered from illnesses and poverty, yet this only made her cling to Jesus even more. She joined the Visitation Sisters at the young age of 23 but was often treated with doubt with regard to her vocation.
In December of 1673 Jesus appeared to her in visions that lasted for a year and a half. The message that Jesus gave to St Margaret Mary was of an increased devotion to His Sacred Heart through the Eucharist and acts of reparation. When she took these visions to her superior, community, and confessor they all doubted her. This only changed when Father Claude de la Colombière became the confessor of St Margaret Mary and saw her visions as the truth. He helped her spread the message that Christ gave her, and she eventually became the novice mistress and assistant superior before she died at age 43.
- Litany of the Sacred Heart
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An Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
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12 Promises of the Sacred Heart
- Enthrone your home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Contact the Legion of Maryfor help with planning your home enthronement.
Dilexit Nos
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He Loved Us
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Read the full encyclical
Dilexit Nos is Pope Francis’ fourth and final encyclical – a reflection on our closeness to the heart of Christ. This encyclical teaches us that devotion to the heart of Jesus can open our own hearts to renewed ways we can love God and our neighbor.
Use the resources and materials below to reflect more on this invitation to deepen in relationship with the sacred heart of Christ.
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Dilexit Nos Prayer Resources