09/04/2026
What Is the First Friday Devotion?
The First Friday Devotion is a Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, associated especially with the revelations Our Lord gave to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century.
Our Lord asked for special acts of love and reparation to His Sacred Heart, wounded by the sins, ingratitude, and indifference of mankind.
How is the devotion practiced?
Traditionally, the faithful are encouraged to:
• Receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of the month
• Do so for nine consecutive First Fridays
• Offer their Communion in reparation and atonement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Approach the devotion with a sincere spirit of conversion, love, and reparation
The devotion is especially fruitful when accompanied by Holy Mass, Confession, prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and acts of love toward Our Lord.
The Great Promise
Among the promises associated with the Sacred Heart devotion is Our Lord's Great Promise:
“ I promise in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that
My all-powerful love will grant to all who receive
Holy Communion on the first Friday of the month
for nine consecutive months, the grace of final
penitence; they shall not die in My displeasure nor
without their sacraments: My Divine Heart shall
be their safe refuge in this last moment.”
The First Friday is especially appropriate for this devotion because Friday recalls the Passion and Death of Our Lord, when His Sacred Heart was opened for us.
And there is a beautiful connection with the First Saturday Devotion: Friday is dedicated especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, while Saturday is dedicated especially to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the two Hearts united in love for the salvation of souls.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! ❤️