First Fridays

Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church

First Fridays

The First Friday devotions are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  This is a way to offer acts of reparations for the many sins against life of this age. They originated in a series of visions received by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a 17th century nun.

Christ said to Sister Margaret Mary:

"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.”

The essence of the devotion is to attend Mass on the first Friday of each month, for nine consecutive months, and to receive Holy Communion. Since one must be in a state of grace to receive communion, if one is aware of mortal sin in your life you must first receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the physical heart of Christ is seen as the representation of divine love and mercy.  It is one of the many ways that saints and mystics in the Church over the centuries have developed to appeal to people to follow Christ, and to explain the benefits of the Christian life.  This devotion has a special dedication to the love of Christ for all humanity who suffer.

At Epiphany, on the First Friday of each month, two Masses are held, our regular weekday Mass at 8 a.m., and a second Mass at 11 a.m..