FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONS TO MARY
A Handbook

In the course of her six apparitions to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal between May 13 and October 13, 1917, Mary repeatedly emphasized the necessity of praying the Rosary daily, of wearing the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel, and of performing acts of reparation and sacrifice to amend for sin. She also asked that the faithful practice a new devotion on the first Saturday of five consecutive months. Among the spiritual exercises attached to this devotion are Confession, recitation of the Rosary with meditation on its mysteries — Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious, attendance at Mass and reception of Holy Communion, along with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and acts of reparation for sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of his mother. This work walks us through each of these elements in order to assist those who practice this devotion to benefit more profitably from the graces that Mary promises would come to the individual and the world as a result.

About the Author: Deacon Roy Barkley, a native of Texas, received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974. He was trained as a medievalist and is particularly interested in the Church Fathers. In addition to teaching at colleges in Texas, Ohio, Michigan and Germany, he was worked as a professional editor and writer for some thirty years. Since his ordination to the diaconate in 1991, he has served in the Diocese of Austin. He is a parish director of religious education, a former president of the Texas Catholic Historical Society and a member of the Mariological Society of America. His book, The Mysteries of the Rosary: Mirror of Scripture and Gateway to Prayer, was published by ST PAULS / Alba House) in 2001.