Do you have a lot of bad habits? For sure you have some you wanna get rid of so bad. How about good habits, do you have any? If you don't have enough here's something you can do!
In response to Ladies of Hive prompt: "Any major changes planned for in 2024, or continuing as in the past?" I share with you this activity that can help change the world! This can be done in any country or locality. You can even do this just on your own.
I plan to do this as well. I've never done something like it before so definitely it is a change for the better. If more of us will do it, for sure it will have a major impact on the world!
We all know how living on this planet is already getting darker and harsher. We can see it in the news and social media. So why not do something to change that? Let's bring more light into our lives with this challenge!
🤔 Can anyone do this?
Well you can do other things to have more good habits of course. Can you think of something now? If you're a Christian, this is one of the best things you can start!
Having a devotion, for example, offering prayers for the reparation of the sins of the unbelievers, souls in purgatory, etc., is something really good. I'd even call it noble!
☝️ What's the Five First Saturdays Devotion?
The Five First Saturdays devotion came from the Marian apparition in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Three shepherd children were given divine messages, prayers and more by an angel and Our Lady of Fatima.
source
Remember the two articles I wrote about offering your sufferings to God with various intentions?
- Part 1: "Oh the Pain, the Agony..." Don't Waste It!
- Part 2: Your Pain and Suffering is Worth More Than Gold If...
Well this is kinda related. You see, the children were a lot holier than any of us for sure. They gladly offered their suffering and did mortifications to save other people from hell. Due to their purity I believe that's why the mother of God showed herself and communicated with them.
For those of us who lack the same holiness and faith, the Fatima messages are a big help. If you'd rather not offer your feelings and experiences of pain, hurt and negativity, you can do this devotion instead.
All you have to do is remember to do this every first Saturday for five months. Quite easy right? (Or you can do it all year if you want.)
Yes, this January's first Saturday is already over, meaning we can start next month! All you gotta do are the following steps:
- These steps must be done with the intention of offering reparation for the five offences or blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Go to confession in order to be in a state of grace (absolved of mortal, grave or even multiple venial sins). At most 8 days before or after, if you cannot confess on that first Saturday.
- Go to Mass and take communion on the first Saturday. One must be in the state of grace before communion.
- Pray the rosary. (5 decades, pick whichever of the 4 sets of mysteries you prefer)
- Spend 15 minutes to accompany our mother in meditation of the mysteries, or just pick one mystery.
Remember, all of the above must be done with the intention mentioned. Don't forget or you will start again until you complete the 5 consecutive first Saturdays. More info here.
What's the Point of Doing This?
You know how there are so many miserable people out there right now, right? Even you and me, we have our own problems and difficulties. Whether you are rich or poor, we all have our own daily sufferings. Everyone has complaints about life and each other.
source
Even if you have a job, eat 3 times a day and have all the money in the world, you can still feel empty inside. Our life on Earth is not just a pursuit of happiness. If that is your only goal and you anchor it to objects and people, prepare to be unhappy more often.
On the contrary doing something good for others give us a sense of being, an accomplishment. So if you start doing this devotion, imagine what good it would do for your soul and the world. 😀
Our Lady of Fatima even promises graces for those who would do this practice.
“I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls.”
Jesus concurs. In 1930, He is actually the one who told Sr. Lucia (one of the three Fatima apparition children) why we should do this First Saturdays Devotion:
source
As Jesus said, shared by the nun:
‘There My daughter, is the reason why the Immaculate Heart of Mary asked Me to request this small act of reparation, and in consideration of it, to move My mercy to forgive souls who have had the misfortune to offend Her.'
This is also why I wrote about Mama Mary's perpetual virginity.
Part 1: Why Mama Mary's Perpetual Virginity is Controversial For Humans
Part 2: Mama Mary's Perpetual Virginity Is Not For Hype
I mean, come on, we're already such sinners everyday, why add offences to the mother of Jesus to your sins?
If you think this is useless, think again. Although of course it is your soul which you have responsibility over. I'm merely letting you know what are the things we can do so we can accumulate treasures in Heaven.
You Can Also Be Part of the Blue Army of Mary!
Our Lady of Fatima with the three shepherd children: Francisco, Jacinta & Lucia. | image source
Apparently Mama Mary has an "army" of people on Earth. Hehe. The Blue Army was started in 1946 by Fr. Harold Colgan who fell ill and promised the Lady he will spread the devotion once he gets well.
Thus he eventually officially founded the religious association in the USA together with Mr. John Haffert a year later. They even consulted Sr. Lucia about this! Awesome right?
It's officially called the World Apostolate of Fátima. The head office is in Portugal of course. It also has a US office and I happily found a Philippine chapter too! Wow right? 😀
Here's what it's all about:
source
If you'd like to take this devotion a step further, find the nearest chapter in your area. Feel free to join when you are able to. Start slow and steady.
Remember, don't force yourself to join if you think this will just be a burden to you. Avoid making it an obligation. 😉
So, what do you think? Can you do this simple challenge?
Let's start doing this good habit to help remove the thorns in the Immaculate Heart of Mama Mary. We can do this for the slew of offending people to gain forgiveness from Jesus.
This is a non-monetary action, surely a lot of us can finish 5 Saturdays. Are you ready to start? Have you practiced doing this before? If not, lezgooo!
