# The Great Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: The Nine First Fridays
*2022-07-01*

> Bill Young and John O'Rourke discuss the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the first Fridays of nine consecutive months, outlining the promises attached to this practice.

## Introduction to the First Friday Devotion

Good morning, this is Bill Young with John O'Rourke. July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of our Lord, and today we begin a special prayer called the Great Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Nine First Fridays. This devotion was revealed to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and involves receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months.

## The Heart of the Promise

The Church venerates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the incarnate Word who loves humanity with a pure, infinite love. As Saint Paul says, "the Son of Man gave his love for us and gave himself for us." Because of our sins, the Sacred Heart stands as a sign of divine mercy and salvation. In the apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary, Jesus promised several graces to those who honor His Heart.

## The Twelve Promises

Jesus listed twelve specific promises:
1. He will give all the graces needed in the present state.
2. He will aid families in difficulty and bring peace to divided families.
3. He will console those in affliction.
4. He will be a secure refuge at the moment of death.
5. He will shower abundant blessings on all works.
6. Sinners will find in His Heart the source of infinite mercy.
7. He will restore religious communities and the faithful to their original favor, leading souls to perfection quickly.
8. He will bless places where the image of the Sacred Heart is exposed and honored.
9. He will give a gift of moving the hardest hearts to those who work for the salvation of souls.
10. The names of those who practice the devotion will be written in His Heart and never erased.
11. He promises that those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday for nine consecutive months will die in a state of grace and receive the final penance.
12. His Heart will be a safe haven in the last hour of life.

## Why the First Friday Devotion Matters

These promises show the depth of Christ’s love and the assurance of salvation for those who faithfully observe the nine First Fridays. The devotion also connects to the earlier apparition at the “Fountains of Rome” on April 12, 1947, where the Virgin Mary urged the faithful to honor the Sacred Heart. While the details of that apparition are less central, it reinforces the call to live out this devotion.

## Personal Commitment

I confess that I have received Communion on first Fridays before, but I have never completed the nine‑month sequence. Today, July 1 2022, being a first Friday, I commit to observing the devotion diligently for the next nine months, trusting in the promises of the Sacred Heart.

*By honoring the Sacred Heart on nine consecutive first Fridays, we open ourselves to the abundant graces and final salvation promised by Christ.*