Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus:

01 July

“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

July is the month devoted to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Like the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, devotion to His Precious Blood is also one of the oldest forms of Catholic piety. Over the centuries, several Catholic saints are known to have had a great devotion to His Precious Blood, Saint Catherine being described as the ‘Prophetess of the Precious Blood’ because she often wrote about the Precious Blood of Jesus in her ‘Dialogue’ – a written account of her mystical visions.

However, though this devotion was being followed since early times, it was not until the 19th century that it was vigorously promoted and given Papal support. In 1849 Pope Pius IX approved the Feast of the Most Precious Blood to be celebrated throughout the universal Church on the first Sunday in July. Pope Pius X moved the Feast to the first day of July and Pope Pius XI raised it to the rank of First Class double. In 1960 Pope John XXIII approved the Litany of the Most Precious Blood for both public and private devotion throughout the Catholic world. He described the Blood of Christ as “the price of our redemption, the pledge of salvation and life eternal”.

However, after the Second Vatican Council, Pope John Paul VI joined the commemoration of the Blood of Christ with that of His Body in what is now called the “Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ”, that is the Feast of Corpus Christi which is celebrated in June. Hence in most Catholic Churches throughout the world the Feast of the Most Precious Blood is no longer celebrated liturgically on 1 July. However, the Mass of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ is placed among the votive Masses said during the month and hence the whole month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.

The Most Precious Blood of Jesus is the fountain of our salvation by which we are washed of our sins and made pure and worthy to inherit eternal lives. This month, as we honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, may it invoke in us a sense of gratitude and love for our Savior who offered Himself up as a remission for our sins. As Pope Benedict XVI said to the crowds of the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on the first Sunday in July 2009,

“The Blood of Christ is the pledge of God’s faithful love for humanity. Every human being, even in conditions of extreme moral wretchedness can say, fixing his eyes on the wounds of the Crucified One: ‘God has not abandoned me, he loves me, he has given his life for me’ and thus rediscover hope.”

Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus:

“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

Prayers:

Prayer of St. Catherine of Sienna to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus: