First Thursdays Devotion

The First Thursdays Devotion, also called the Act of Reparation to the Wounds of Jesus and to the Holy Eucharist, is a Catholic devotion to offer acts of reparation and which had its origin in the apparitions of Christ at Balazar, Portugal, reported by Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa in the 20th century.

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This devotion to the Holy Wounds through Eucharistic adoration (especially made in front of the most forgotten and abandoned tabernacles) was approved by the Roman Catholic Church and several promises were made by Jesus to those who practice the First Thursdays Devotion, one of which included the salvation of the soul at the moment of death.[1][2]

Description
Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar was the messenger of Jesus to the request of the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary made by Pope Pius XII.

According to Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar, who attributed the words to Jesus Christ during a reported apparition of him on 25 February 1949, there are several promises to those who practice the First Thursdays Devotion:

"My daughter, My dear spouse, tell souls that I wish to be loved and consoled, and that I desire reparation to be made to Me in the Eucharist. In My Name tell all those who receive Holy Communion with sincerity and humility, fervour and love, for six consecutive first Thursdays, and spend one hour of worship, uniting their soul with Me before the tabernacle, that I promise Heaven. This is to honour My Holy Wounds through the Eucharist, primarily that of My sacred shoulder so little remembered. Those who do this, who unite the sorrows of My Blessed Mother to the Holy Wounds, and in their name ask for graces, be they spiritual or corporal, I promise to grant all requests if they are not a danger to their souls. At the moment of the death I will come to defend them, and bring my Blessed Mother with Me."[3]

The devotion consists of several practices that are performed on the first Thursdays of six consecutive months. The number six represents Jesus' five wounds of the Crucifixion (hands, feet, and side) plus his shoulder wound from carrying the cross. On these days, a person is to attend the Mass and receive the Eucharist in a state of grace "with sincere humility, fervor and love" and spend one hour before a church tabernacle containing the Eucharist, meditating on the wounds of Jesus (particularly his shoulder wound) and the sorrows of Mary.[4]

See also

References
  1. MADIGAN, Leo; Blessed Alexandrina da Costa: The Mystical Martyr of Fatima. Fatima-Ophel Books, Fátima, Portugal (2005).
  2. ROWLES, Kevin. Blessed Alexandrina - Living Miracle of the Eucharist. Twickenham, United Kingdom (2006).
  3. FIRST THURSDAYS – Promise made by Jesus to Blessed Alexandrina on 25th February of 1949, Alex-Diffusion. Retrieved on 13 October 2021.
  4. Revelations and promises of Jesus to Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar, Alex-Diffusion. Retrieved on 13 October 2021.

Further reading
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