NINE FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION

NINE FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION

The devotion of the Nine First Fridays owes its origin to one of the Messages and Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus given on 5th May, 1688, through St Margaret Mary. 
  Margaret Mary was a nun of the Visitation Convent at Paray-le-Monial in France. 
  Jesus chose her to carry His Message of Forgiveness and Love in a unique way.

Jesus said to Margaret Mary, "I promise you in the excessive Mercy of My Heart that Its all powerful Love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on Nine First Fridays of the month consecutively, the grace of Final Repentance: they will not die under My Displeasure or without receiving the Sacraments, My Divine Heart making Itself their assured Refuge at the last moment."

The Promises made by Jesus were;
1.   I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life 
2.   I will give peace in their families 
3.   I will console them in all their troubles 
4.   They shall find in My Heart an assured Refuge during life and especially at the hour of death 
5.   Sinners shall find in My Heart the Source and Infinite Ocean of Mercy 
6.   Tepid souls shall become fervent 
7.   Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection 
8.   I will bless the homes in which the Image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured 
9.   I will give to Priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts 
10. Those that propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced
11. The all-powerful Love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My Displeasure, nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured Refuge at the last hour. 

A Beautiful and Ancient Christian Custom
It is a beautiful and ancient Christian Custom to 'Enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Home'.
How do we do this?
  The family who wishes to invoke Jesus as the Lord and Master of their Home makes arrangements with a Priest as to the date and time. 

If you are in a war torn area, squatter camp or in a situation where you do not have a priest, remember that the head of the home or someone else may preside. 

Enthronement of the Sacred Heart Ceremony
An altar is laid out beforehand on a table or side surface; white cloth, with holy water and the picture.
A candle is lit. The home member/family gather around, and the priest blesses the image.

Priest; 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,'
Home member/Family; 'Amen'.
Priest; 'Our help is in the Name of the Lord,'
Home member/Family; 'Who made heaven and earth.'
Priest; 'The Lord be with you,'
Home member/Family; 'And also with you.'

Priest; 'Dear Lord, we gather together to dedicate this family/this home to your Sacred Heart. Please keep Your Gracious Hand outstretched over it, and be the Refuge of all herein. Keep them safe; keep them free of fire, flood and pestilence. Let all beneath this roof grow in grace and dignity, and at the last, come in peace to You to be with You forever in Your eternal kingdom, Amen.'
Home member;Family; 'Amen.' 

The priest blesses the image of Jesus with holy water.
The head of the home then enthrones the image in the place of honor prepared for it, such as the wall of the main lounge.
  This is the symbolic act of Enthronement.

The  Creed is then recited as an act of faith on the part of the home member/ family.

'We believe in one God, the Father the Almighty, 
Maker of heaven and of earth,
Of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
Begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father;
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven.
He was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the Right Hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His Kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the Giver of life,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy, universal and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen

The priest addresses a few words to those present, reminding the home member/family of the promises of the Sacred Heart. The priest then blesses all present, and a hymn is softly sung to the honour of Jesus.
The Ceremony is ended. 

The Devotion to the Sacred Heart 

http://www.catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/devotion12.htm

With thanks to Catholictradition.org