An initiative of the Mary of Nazareth Association October is the Month of the Rosary. This year A Moment with Mary has chosen to dedicate each daily meditation to the holy Rosary that Pope Benedict XII (d.1730) called: "The supreme remedy for errors and vices." October 31 – Pius XII consecrates the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1942) The Great Promise of the Immaculate Heart of Mary On December 10, 1925, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Lucia of Fatima with, beside her, hanging on a luminous cloud, the Child Jesus. The Blessed Virgin put her hand on Lucia's shoulder and at the same time showed her a Heart surrounded by thorns that she held in the other hand. Then the Blessed Virgin said: "My daughter, look at my Heart encircled by thorns that ungrateful men continually pierce by their blasphemies and their ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me and tell the people that those who, for five months, on the first Saturday, will go to confession, receive Holy Communion, recite a Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me… I promise to assist them at the hour of their death with all the graces needed for the salvation of their souls." Source: www.santorosario.net How to do the Five First Saturdays There are four requirements to faithfully fulfill the five first Saturdays. 1. Go to confession. 2. Receive Holy Communion. 3. Say five decades of the Holy Rosary. 4. Meditate for fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. (Separate from saying the Rosary.) During the apparition of February 15, 1926, Sister Lucia presented Our Lord the problem some people had if confessing on Saturdays. She asked Our Lord if the confession would be valid if done within a period of eight days before or eight days after the first Saturday. Our Lord answered: "Yes, it can even be within many more days, provided they are in the state of grace when they receive Me, and have the intention of offering reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary." The Intention To console the Immaculate Heart of Mary, offer reparation for the blasphemies and ingratitude of unrepentant sinners, and for peace in the world. The Reasons for this Devotion On May 29, 1930 Our Lord explained to Sister Lucia why five First Saturdays. "My daughter, the reason is simple. Against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, five kinds of offenses and blasphemies are committed: - Those committed against the Immaculate Conception; - Those committed against the virginity of Our Lady; - Those committed against the Divine maternity, refusing at the same time, to accept her as the mother of men; - Those committed by men who publicly attempt to instill indifference, scorn and even hatred for this Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children; - Those committed by men who insult her directly in her statues." In Portugal, Our Lady of Fatima The month of October, a month when we especially like to pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary, is traditionally called the Month of the Rosary. The holy Rosary is composed of twenty decades. Each decade is recited in honor of a mystery in the life of Christ and that of Our Lady. It is customary to recite five decades at a time while meditating on one set of mysteries. We usually pray one specific set on each day the week in the following way: - On Monday and Saturday we pray the Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation of Jesus, and The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. - On Tuesday and Friday we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries: The Agony of Jesus, The Scourging, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus.  - On Wednesday and Sunday we pray the Glorious Mysteries: The Resurrection, The Ascension, The Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and The Coronation of the Virgin Mary. - On Thursday we pray the Mysteries of Light: The Baptism of Jesus, The Wedding at Cana, The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, The Transfiguration, and The Institution of the Holy Eucharist. The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7th. This feast was instituted by Pope Pius V in 1573, to thank the Virgin Mary for the victory of Lepanto (1571).