Since apostolic times, Christians have observed Friday as a day of penance in commemoration of the
Passion of Our Lord. Also hailing from the Apostolic Age is the practice of fasting on Wednesday in
reparation for the betrayal of Judas, as this was the day on which he agreed to turn Jesus over for 30
pieces of silver. Additionally, Saturday joined the ranks as a day of penance by the end of the first
500 years of the Church, owing to the fact that Christ remained buried in the tomb on that day and
because of the day’s Marian significance. This trio also occurs during the seasonal penitential Ember
Days, on which traditionally fasting and abstinence is observed.
A Tradition Restored
In the last hundred years, we have seen a new confirmation of these penitential days from heaven.
Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary and requested that reparation be made to His Sacred Heart
on the first Friday in every month. Our Lady requested at Fatima that reparation be made for the sins
against her Immaculate Heart which so offend our Lord on the first Saturday of every month. These
devotions (known as the Nine First Fridays and Five First Saturdays respectively) are widely known
and practiced.
Few people know about the First Wednesday Devotion. St. Joseph requested in two separate
apparitions (one in Ohio and one in Brazil) for the first Wednesday of every month to be dedicated to
honoring his Chaste Heart. He requested that we do this by 1) praying the Joyful mysteries of the
Rosary while meditating upon his life and sufferings with Mary and Jesus, 2) receiving Holy
Communion in union with the love with which he received the Child Jesus every time he held Him,
and 3) to do these two things for 7 first Wednesdays in a row. With this devotion, we have completed
the trio and can see that God has desired to renew the traditional days of penance by consecrating
them to the Holy Hearts of the Holy Family!
The Chaste Heart
It is interesting that St. Joseph revealed his heart as a ‘chaste’ heart. Not a ‘just’ heart or a
‘courageous’ heart or a ‘fatherly’ heart. On one level, this is an obvious reference to his perfect chaste
love for our Lady in their marriage. On a deeper level, it shows forth Joseph’s perfectly pure love of
God. No attachment or selfishness ever entered into the least of his actions and he did all for God.
Without this purity, all his other virtues would have been tainted by the poison of self-love and lost
their value before God, Who desires above all that we love Him with our whole heart.
May the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph pour out powerful graces upon us this first Wednesday and may we all
grow in selfless love of God through His intercession!
