Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 213.  Fri 12-13-91 16:29  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Mary Mankowski
 Subject: First Friday

+-
| Dear Father,
| What is the significance of First Friday.  I remember vaguely that Our
| Lady made promises to those who attended First Friday mass and received
| the sacraments.  I also seem to remember that this was somehow related to
| the wearing of scapulars.  Can you tell me more?
| Sincerely,
| Mary Mankowski
 
Dear Mary,
 
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an affirmation of our belief
that Jesus whole approach to us is one of love.  Love is the mainspring
of His life and activity, which calls forth love from us --- love for
Him and love for others.  His Heart is the symbol of His love.
 
It is a characteristic of devotion to Christ's heart, the symbol of His
love, that we wish in love and loyalty to offer reparation to make up
for our own sins and the sins of others, to win the conversion and
salvation of those who do not yet know and love Him.
 
There is a scapular of the Sacred Heart, but it is not an important
feature of the devotion.  There are many ways to honor Christ's
Heart, especially by prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
and by offering Masses and Communions of reparation.
 
The First Friday is an observance recommended by St. Margaret Mary
(1647 - 1690).  She received many visions of Our Lord, who taught her
devotion to His Heart.  She said that Our Lord desired those who wished
to honor His heart (His love, His loving self), to express their
devotion by offering Mass and receiving Holy Communion of reparation on
nine successive first Fridays.  He promised them the grace of final
repentance and death in the state of grace.
 
The best explanation of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is
found in Pope Pius XII's encyclical on the Sacred Heart.  You may order
this from the Daughters of St. Paul, 46 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA
94108, telephone 415-781-5180.
 
                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
                        Father Mateo