First Friday Devotion

The First Friday Devotion in the Catholic Church

First Friday devotions among Catholics are related to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ. First Friday practices date to the last decades of the 17^th century, when Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary and spoke to her of His Sacred Heart. Among the promises Our Lord revealed to St. Margaret Mary, the 12^th specifically referenced practices for Fridays:

In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart, as given to St. Margaret by Jesus, began to grow in popularity as soon as the saintly woman had died, but was officially recognized 75 years later. Though the devotion dictated to Margaret referred to 9 consecutive first Fridays, it does not need to end there. Many of the Catholic faithful continue to make the First Friday devotion beyond the nine consecutive months.

Holy Mass on Friday is devoted to the Sacred Heart and to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Due in part to the promise revealed by Christ to St. Margaret Mary, attending Mass on the First Friday of the month is popular among many Catholics, even if they are unable to attend daily mass regularly throughout the week. Reception of the Holy Eucharist on such Fridays was popular even in years when frequent Communion was not. Fridays, particularly the first Friday of the month, are the popular day in many parishes for the Blessed Sacrament to be taken to the sick and homebound.

Devotion on Fridays have long existed among the faithful, even if they were not directly connected to the First Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart or were not relegated to the first Friday of a month. This is because, as each Sunday is a reminder and anniversary of Christ’s Resurrection, each Friday is a reminder and anniversary of His Sacrifice.

For example, Pope John XXIII, whose papacy lasted from 1959-1963, practiced a Friday devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ shed on the first Good Friday. Additionally, Friday is and had long been a day of penance for the faithful, not only during Lent but year-round. And some pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart over the nine consecutive First Fridays that they attend Mass.

You can read more about St. Margaret Mary here, or by reading her autobiography, and read about Pope John XXIII in Meet John XXIII. Click to view our selection of books on Devotion to the Precious Blood or books on the Devotion to the Sacred Heart.

This article incorporated information from the New Catholic Encyclopedia and Catholic Customs and Traditions.