The Church has honored the Mother of God on Saturdays for centuries, dating back to the early Middle Ages. Why is Saturday dedicated to the Virgin Mary? The tradition of setting aside Saturdays to honor the Mother of God is an ancient one, going back hundreds of years, to the 10th century. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the choice was connected to Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday and the unshaken faith of Mary on the previous day. Since the Resurrection took place on a Sunday, we keep holy this day instead of the Sabbath as did the Jews of old. However, we also sanctify Saturday in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary who remained unshaken in faith all day Saturday after the death of her Divine Son. Others have postulated that since Sunday is devoted to Jesus, it would be fitting to dedicate the day prior to his Mother. Whatever the exact origins were, this devotion to the Virgin Mary on Saturdays was most recently confirmed by the private revelations of Our Lady of Fatima.
On December 10, 1925, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Sister Lucia at a convent in Pontevedra, Spain. Sister Lucia had previously been the recipient of Marian visions in Fatima, Portugal, along with her cousins Jacinta and Francisco. In this new private revelation eight years after the visions at Fatima, Mary requested the institution of the five consecutive First Saturday devotions in reparation to her Immaculate Heart. This revelation further cemented the connection of Saturdays to devotion to the Virgin Mary, which is always focused on drawing Christians closer to Jesus, her Son. Saturday is a “preparation day,” and Mary is the “preparer” who helps us reap the fruit of our labor on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection.
In the parish of Katukurunda, on every Saturday at 7:00 am Mass is held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Mary’s Church, Katukurunda. It is observed as the Mass of the patroness of the Parish. The Legion of Mary as an association devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary can be invited to specially organize this Saturday morning Mass.
