Sister Lucia’s confessor once asked her why the devotion involved five Saturdays, rather than seven or nine. In response, she explained the reason in a letter dated June 12, 1930. She shared that during the night of May 29–30, 1930, while praying in the convent chapel, she experienced a vision of Our Lord, who revealed the explanation.
According to Jesus, the Five First Saturdays correspond to five specific types of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These are:
- Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception
- Blasphemies against her perpetual virginity
- Blasphemies against her divine maternity, along with the rejection of her as the Mother of all humanity
- The efforts to instill indifference, contempt, or even hatred toward Mary in the hearts of children
- The desecration and insults directed at her holy images
These offenses deeply wound the Heart of the Blessed Mother. Understanding the reasons behind the devotion helps us appreciate its spiritual significance. Every devotion carries an intention, and being aware of that intention brings deeper meaning, greater merit, and more fervent commitment to the practice.