Devotions

Roman Catholic devotions are external practices of piety, not part of the official liturgy of the Catholic Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics.

Bellairs Corpus

• In an effort to stop her daughter, Eudoxia, from fidgeting, Emily Faldstool made ninety-two First Fridays, fifty-six First Saturdays, and twelve First Mondays - though she believes her son made up the latter (Saint Fidgeta and Other Parodies, 23).
• The Question Box moderator is asked what someone gets if they make five First Fridays (Saint Fidgeta and Other Parodies, 40).

Inspiration

First Friday Devotions date to the last decades of the 17th Century, when Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary and promised "the grace of final repentance" to those "who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months." The Question Box moderator sternly correct Mrs. L. S. D., informing her she must attend for four more months to reach nine.

The First Saturdays Devotion has, according to the visionaries, been requested by the Virgin Mary in several visitations, notably Our Lady of Fátima and the subsequent apparitions. Catholics honor the Virgin Mary on Saturdays because they believe that she must have suffered a great deal and had much faith on Holy Saturday, before the Resurrection on Easter; the devotion is held the first Saturday of five successive months.

The suggestion that First Monday Devotions were made up is perfectly accurate.