The Nine First Fridays

A bit of context

This devotion grows out of the promises Jesus made to those who honor His Sacred Heart, and the request is simple, to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine months in a row, in love and in reparation for the times He is forgotten.

To those who do it He attached a great promise of His mercy, especially the grace of not being left alone at the end of life. It is worth being clear about what this is and is not, because it is not a magic streak or a superstition, it is an act of love and trust, and the promise rests entirely on the mercy of His Heart, not on our perfect record. So if you miss a month, simply begin again, because He is patient.

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Let's Pray

This is a devotion you live out over nine months. Here is how to keep it.

1. Mark the first Fridays. 

Look at the calendar and find the first Friday of each of the next nine months, then write them down or set a reminder, because showing up is most of the battle.

2. Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion on each of those first Fridays. Try to receive in a state of grace, which means going to Confession beforehand if you need to, and do not be afraid of it, because Confession is itself an encounter with His mercy.

3. Offer it in reparation and love.

Before or after Communion, make a simple offering. You might pray:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I receive You today in love, and to console You for the times You are forgotten. I offer You my heart. Make it more like Yours.

4. Keep a Holy Hour if you can, especially on those Fridays, since the two devotions belong together.

5. If you break the chain, begin again. Life happens, and a missed month is not a failure of love, so start over and keep going, because the Heart you are honoring is the most merciful Heart there is.(Matthew 26), or pray a rosary if it helps, or simply sit in silence and let Him look at you with love. Nothing has to happen, and something always does.

7. Before you leave, thank Him for the time, and tell Him you will be back.