What is First Saturday Devotion?

Meditation Set #1:  (Month of December)

Joyful Mysteries [Obedience]



1. The Annunciation: “Be it done unto me...” Two thousand years ago the world was already grown old and hoary with sin. Pagan Rome’s chief commerce was vice. Men were left to their own desires; God, apparently, was nowhere on earth - except in the little home at Nazareth God was certainly there, hidden in the Virgin Mary’s womb, as if He had to steal into His own world. A young girl’s “I obey” had drawn Heaven to earth. Fiat - whatever God wishes ... The world is grown very old again. God seems to be only here and there; sin and war everywhere in-between. What can I do? What Mary did - obey! Obey God’s commandments; live up to the duties of my state in life. The world needs my day-by-day “Fiat.” Mary’s was a foothold for God on earth. So is mine.
2. The Visitation: “Behold, Elizabeth thy kinswoman also has conceived a son ... Mary arose and went with haste ... and saluted Elizabeth.” Wasn’t this just like Mary, to obey a mere suggestion! “Elizabeth has conceived a son”; an angel drops a hint! Not a single word of command, not even a “Would you mind...?” Just a simple statement of fact. By divine design - “nothing is impossible with God” - Mary’s aged cousin is already six months with child. Mary’s heart listened between the lines. She “took the hint.” A grateful Elizabeth could rest until her time was come, while “the Mother of her Lord” did the housekeeping. I obey best when I “lend a hand” without being asked, without needing to be asked, like Mary. “Fiat” again - “Be it done” - by me!
3. The Nativity: “A decree went forth from Caesar Augustus that a census of the whole world should be taken...” For nearly nine months Mary had borne her God-Son in her womb; her time was now at hand. She would be thinking only of Him, of course, and of the Holy Family-to-be. Joseph left her to her quiet meditation, but Caesar did not. In obedience to the emperor’s ambition, she traveled the wearying hills to Bethlehem, where a cave was her Son’s first home. Sad? Unfortunate? Hard to take? Not for Mary. She obeyed the government; she went where Caesar could rightfully bid her go, as willingly as she had obeyed the angel Gabriel, and for the same reason - she saw in both God’s will for her. A “Fiat” that is all mine!
4. The Presentation in the Temple: “They took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord - as it is written in the Law of the Lord.” Once again a Mystery of Our Lady is introduced to me as a Mystery of obedience. Her heart alive with thanksgiving, Mary carries her Child into His Father’s house “according to the custom of the Law.” Until the Church of her Son, the Church whose Mother she is, had blossomed forth from Judaism, Mary would do as God had prescribed “through the Law and the Prophets.” This Church of her Son, the Catholic Church, is mine. Her wise laws and her “hints” - Mass and Communion as often as possible, frequent confession, daily Rosary - these are “Fiats” that spell eternal life for me.
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple: “They went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.” Another Mystery of obedience - this time, Joseph’s. He, like Mary, had complied with angels’ commands and an emperor’s decree; now, in obedience to the Law, he has journeyed to the Holy City to celebrate the Passover with Mary and the boy Jesus. Unknown to His parents, Jesus remained behind as they left by caravan for Nazareth. After three days’ agonizing search, Mary and Joseph found Him in the Temple, obediently “about His Father’s business.” Jesus, Mary, Joseph, in your lives there was never a “No” when God said “Yes.” His commandments, Jewish Law, words of angels, government’s just orders - “hints” ... to each equally, “Fiat.” Help me to make that my life’s password, and my passport home to God.

Sorrowful Mysteries [The Crucifixion]

1. The Agony: “They laid their hands on Jesus and held Him fast.” During His public life, Jesus had multiplied five barley loaves into a banquet for five thousand men. Then He did a surprising thing. When His grateful guests called Him their Christ and their king, Jesus slipped away into a mountain, alone. Again, on the day when He rode into Jerusalem, meek upon an ass, while the crowd exulted and children sang and even the stones were ready to break out in Hosannas, Jesus broke into tears. Only in Gethsemane, at the mercy of men with murder in their hearts, is Jesus content to let the crowd have its way with Him. Deliberately, Jesus “missed His chances” for success. He chose failure, for my salvation and my instruction.
2. The Scourging: “Pilate scourged Him.” Jesus had come to preach to Israel’s lost sheep, but His good news was for the Gentiles as well. The prophets had called the Christ-to-come “the Expected of all the nations,” a priest like Melchizedek, who was not a Jew. The Sanhedrin directed pagan Magi to His birthplace. Exiled from Jewish Palestine, the Christ-Child hallowed heathen Egypt by His hidden presence. Jesus found no faith in Israel like the ready trust of a Roman centurion; and while His brethren sought to kill Him, a pagan woman begged His mercy as a whelp whines for crumbs. But in Christ’s Passion, the pagan Pilate, with a coward’s strange logic, declared, “I find no fault in Him, therefore will I scourge Him...” Jesus was a failure in everybody’s eyes. That is how He redeemed the world. My failures, cheerfully accepted, can save souls.
3. The Crowning: “Hail, King of the Jews!” Jesus had known all along that He would fail. One comment had greeted His first sermon at Nazareth: “Imprudent son of Joseph!” Sadly, He warned His disciples to beware of men, and to expect the same fate that awaited Him. He even said, “Woe upon you, when men speak well of you!” Failure was inevitable; it was too much for men that God should walk among them. But failure was not enough. Jesus was hated, and malice must mock. Sceptered, robed and crowned, the captive King of the Jews sat enthroned on the praetorium pavement, while the cohort bowed low before Him, and spat at His Face. My daily appointments and failures are not often mocked. But when they are, I can please God greatly by imitating the silent patience of Christ.
4. The Way of the Cross: “They burdened Simon with the Cross, to carry it after Jesus.” Was there no one in the mob swarming about Jesus on the way to Golgotha who thought to mock Him for falling under His Cross? Surely the Pharisees must have recalled the day when Jesus proclaimed His great challenge: “Will you be on My side? Then take up the Cross and follow after Me.” And now, “This Man who lays a heavy burden on other man’s backs” - the Pharisees, often accused of this crime by Jesus, must have taunted Him with His own words as Simon seized the heavy Cross - “and will not lift a finger to carry it Himself!” In spite of my resolutions I often fall, weak of soul, under the cross of temptations and failure. But there is less shame in falling than in failing to rise.
5. The Crucifixion: “There was darkness over all the earth.” As the world judges, Jesus was a hapless wretch at the end. Betrayed and deserted by His friends; declared a criminal and crucified with “two other evil-doers”; His miraculous powers hushed, His good name gone, even His clothing snatched away; thrown against a cross while Pharisees made crude remarks about “nailing the Carpenter to His wood”; hoisted up for all to laugh at; giving His Mother away, then abandoned by His Father; and while the black fires of Hell overshadowed Him, Jesus Christ, “become a curse for us,” died. However trying my life may be, it can only be a faint reflection of Christ’s bleak death. And accepted Christ-wise, the failures and disappointments of my life can help bring the world back to God.

Glorious Mysteries [Success]

1. The Resurrection: “He is risen!” Jesus had a serene disregard for worldly renown. His birth had been obscure, His parents common folk. For many years He worked as a carpenter to support His widowed mother. Though His miracles made Him a public figure, His “hard sayings” won Him the wrath of the hypocrites, who “in the hour of darkness” had their way with Him. On Calvary, He was surrounded by a jeering rabble, gloating that the self-styled King of the Jews was in His proper place - “with two other malefactors.” But on Easter, there was no one with Him to rejoice at His Resurrection. Jesus had many witnesses of His failures, but none at His crowning success. His loneliest moment was His triumphal resurrection. He was a success first of all before God - the only worthwhile success.
2. The Ascension: “Men of Galilee, why stand here looking Heavenwards?” The Apostles stood on Olivet, eyes wide open, their gaze turned Heavenward, their hearts beating hard. Jesus had just vanished from their sight above a silvery cloud that shimmered in the radiance of His glory. He had come to earth as a helpless Child; now He was returning to His Father’s House as the world’s Redeemer. The little group on Olivet stood in silent, joyful prayer, their hearts ascending with Him. Heaven was reflected in their eyes - until the angel’s chiding words brought them hurriedly down to earth. Nothing succeeds like failure. Christ’s Cross was the price of His glorious Ascension. That is why the angels sent the Apostles back to the city - to suffer for Christ. A lesson for me!
3. Pentecost: “All who accepted Peter’s words were baptized.” On Pentecost, the Church’s birthday, three thousand candles were lit - three thousand souls enlightened with the grace of faith. From the simple eloquence of the Apostle Peter went forth the power of God, and men who had that morning been citizens of a dozen nations, and strangers to one another, were now “one in Christ.” A stupendous miracle of God’s grace, their sudden, spontaneous confession that a crucified Nazarene was God and Savior. But a testimonial as well to man’s inviolable free will. The grace of Pentecost was offered to many, but it bore fruit only in those who opened their hearts to it. My salvation - my “success story” - will be all God’s work, but not only God’s work. I must work hand in hand with God’s ever-present grace.
4. The Assumption: “Mary is assumed to Heaven!” An echo, although it has a sound of its own, presupposes some other sound. So Mary’s Assumption, in itself a glorious mystery, harks back to the still greater mystery of Christ’s Ascension. Jesus could ascend to Heaven by His own divine power. Mary, although “mighty as an army ready for the fray,” was still but a creature, as little able to do anything without God’s help as you and I. She was, then, taken up to Heaven, assumed by the power to God. And as Calvary was the price of her Son’s victory, so Mary’s Assumption was preceded by her vigil beneath the Cross. Mary’s triumph was like her Son’s, because her heart was like His. Real success is found only in thinking and acting like Christ.
5. The Coronation: “To serve is to reign.” At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His disciples two sacred rites to perform: to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood, and to wash one another’s feet. Mary could not perform the first, which is a priestly function; but her whole life was expressive of the second. She lived for others. She lived for Jesus through the quick thirty years they were together, through the long three years they were apart. On Good Friday, God might have let her die on Calvary with her Son, but she was needed on earth to mother the infant Church. Mary was crowned Queen of Heaven only after a life of selfless service on earth. Eternity well-spent depends on time well spent.