Q&A: Dear Father, Being an invalid, I can only get to Church on Sunday. Someone is kind enough to drive me there. I was wondering if I could fulfill the conditions of the five First Saturdays, such as receive Holy Communion, etc., on five consecutive Sundays instead of Saturdays. Could you enlighten me on this, please?
Second Question:
WHY 5 AND NOT 9 OR 7?
Q&A: Dear Father, I’ve often wondered why Our Lady asked for 5 consecutive first Saturdays and not 9 or even 7. Did Sister Lucy ever explain this?
Fr. James McMillan, SMM
5 FIRST SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS?
To the question put to her by Father Jose Bernardo Goncalves, S. J. — as to whether a person, unable to fulfill the conditions on Saturday, could do so on Sunday, Sister Lucia replied, on 12-6-1930:
“It would be equally acceptable, our Lord told me, to do so on the Sunday after the first Saturday, provided the priest, for a good reason, so allows it.”
Editor’s Note: We presume that “the priest” referred to by Sister Lucy would be your parish priest or in the case of an individual, your spiritual director.
Second Question: WHY 5 AND NOT 9 OR 7?
Yes, Sister Lucy was asked that very same question and here is how she responded in her letter to
Father Goncalves dated June 12, 1930.
“While I was in chapel with Our Lord a part of the night of the 29th-30th of this month of May 1930 and speaking to Our Lord, I felt myself suddenly possessed very profoundly by the divine presence, and if I am not mistaken here is what was revealed to me: —
My daughter the motive is simple. There are 5 kinds of offenses and blasphemies uttered against the Immaculate Heart of Mary:
l. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception.
2. Blasphemies against her virginity.
3. (Blasphemies) against her divine Maternity and at the same time refusal to recognize her as
Mother of men.
4. (Blasphemies of) those who openly seek to foster in the hearts of children indifference or contempt and even hatred for this Immaculate Mother.
5. (The offenses of) those who directly outrage her in her holy images.
Here then, my daughter, is the reason why the Immaculate Heart of Mary has inspired me to ask for this small reparation the effect of which will be that I will show compassion by forgiving those souls who have had the misfortune to offend her.
As for you, strive without ceasing by your prayers and sacrifices to move me to compassion towards these poor souls.
