Our Lord shed His blood for our ransom, to buy us from the slavery of the
devil and of sin. Not one drop of blood did He reserve for Himself; He
shed it all most generously in our behalf. He was the Lamb of God without
blemish, Who, according to God’s designs for the redemption of mankind,
was to be sacrificed. His blood was to be shed on the cross; from five
great wounds it was to flow upon the earth, like the sacrifices of the Old
Testament. These sufferings were precious in the sight of God, the Father,
and gained for us the remission of our sins, the ransom from the slavery
of Satan. Every drop of this blood was all powerful, because it
represented the sacrifice of a God‐man.
How precious are those drops of blood in the chalice on the altar at Mass,
when the sacred blood of Christ is offered daily to God for our salvation!
How we desire to drink that blood, that we may have life in us, for the
Lord has said, “Unless you drink of My blood, you shall not have life in
you.” How this blood flowed in the Garden of Gethsemani, at the scourging,
at the crowning with thorns, and at the crucifixion! Precious blood of my
Jesus, I adore thee; pour thyself over my soul that I may be washed in the
blood of the Lamb.
Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.
First Day.
Unhappy mankind was bound in the slavery and tyranny of Satan, in the
shadow of death, without being able to free itself. Jesus, the Victor over
death and hell, came into the world to destroy the kingdom of the prince
of darkness, and to set the human race free, so that it might look up once
more to God the Father. This great work, so beneficial to our souls, was
effected by the shedding of the blood of Christ at the circumcision, and
the completion of the sacrifice when He shed the last drop of His blood on
the cross. In this sacred blood we have received the power to co‐operate
with the graces of God, which are to free us; for certainly we must do
something on our part to keep this newly‐acquired privilege of children of
God. Let us, then, feel in our hearts the necessity of a devotion to the
precious blood of Our Lord, the cause of our salvation; and continue
during this month of July to adore it, and to conceive an unbounded
confidence in the almighty power of its intercession.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood of Jesus in satisfaction
for my sins, and for the wants of holy Church. Blessed be the precious
blood of Jesus, which renders bearable the thorns of earth, redeems our
souls, purifies them from their iniquities, and prepares for them an
eternal crown. Amen.
Second Day.
When Constantine had become a Christian, he found himself confronted by
many enemies of his kingdom, and of our holy religion. He was told to have
confidence in the cross, because in this sign “Thou shalt conquer.” We,
too, will conquer by this sacred symbol of our salvation, stained with the
blood of Our Lord; we, too, have the enemies of our liberty and religion
before us; we have to fight against the world, that is full of deceits and
vanities; we have to make war against the flesh, that rises frequently
against the spirit; we have to fight against the prince of darkness, that
goes about like a roaring lion seeking to tear us to pieces. Yes, my dear
Jesus, I see that my enemies have great power and activity; give me also
the power and activity to oppose my will and intellect against them, so
that I may conquer. Thou didst come upon the earth for the purpose of
giving me this victory; let me not be conquered and led back into slavery.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Third Day.
We come to understand the value of our soul from the price which was paid
for its ransom. When you wish to purchase a precious gem, you judge of its
value from its cost. We must judge of the value of our souls, then, by the
same standard. It cost the precious blood of Jesus Christ to purchase our
souls. Christ would have given it for the possession of only one soul; for
even one soul is the likeness of God. The price that is asked for its
possession is nothing less than the life and blood of a God‐man. Think,
then, seriously, that all the goods of the world, its riches, honors, and
comforts, are not precious enough to buy your soul; that if you gain these
things by the loss of your soul you have gained nothing; that you have
been deceived and cheated, and that you got the worst of the bargain. “For
what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world and to lose his own
soul?” You are sprinkled with the blood of the Lamb of God. Even one drop
of this blood would be sufficient to redeem mankind, it is so precious in
the sight of God the Father, to Whom it is offered.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Fourth Day.
O my soul, where will the thorns, the nails, the cross, the death and
blood of your own martyrdom be, when you are asked how you co‐operated
with the saving power of the blood of Christ? when you have to show what
you have done on your part? Jesus suffered so much for us, and we do
nothing for His love. Are you going to heaven without prayer, without
mortification of the flesh and your passions, without the practise of
virtue? The salvation of Christ, instead of being a help to you, will
become the source of your damnation. The Israelites, crossing the dried
bed of the Red Sea in their flight from the Egyptians, found their
liberation, while the Egyptians met with their destruction. So also we
shall be happily found and brought to heaven if we apply to our souls the
blood of Christ, while we will find ourselves condemned to eternal
perdition if we abuse that adorable gift. O my Jesus, let me appreciate
the great gift of Thy precious blood.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Fifth Day.
Since Almighty God has done so much for us through the sufferings of His
divine Son, what are our obligations for all that Christ endured? We
should think very much during this month on the great mercy of God. We
have already meditated on the Passion of Christ during Lent, and on other
occasions have thought of the shedding of the blood of Christ; but this
month, especially, we will try to make a particular devotion of our dear
Lord’s precious blood, and engrave holy sentiments regarding it deeply on
our souls. In everything that concerns the spiritual life we feel the
power of the blood of Christ; and when we are thoroughly imbued with the
importance of the precious value of the sacred blood, and how great were
the sufferings of Our Lord, we will begin to have an idea of how
stupendous an undertaking our redemption was. Our Lord will visit with
special blessings those who love and honor His sacred blood. You will feel
a new life from this sacred blood coursing through your veins, and
circulating in your heart and brain. It will give a life of spiritual
energy.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Sixth Day.
We ought to imitate the virtues of the Heart of Jesus, from which His
sacred blood flowed; and this imitation will produce in us a perfect
purity. For what purpose has the sacred blood been offered but to cleanse
us from sin and to bring us back to the love of God? It preserves purity
in our soul, because it gives us the grace of loving God, and gives us
strength to say, “I feel within me the energy of the divine blood; and I
am ready to make every sacrifice with joy, in return for the one perfect
and all‐sufficient sacrifice which has been made for me.” The nearer we
are to the Sacred Heart, and to the influences of the sacred blood of
Christ, the fountain of all grace, the more holy we become. Let us then
love the virtues which shine so conspicuously in the Heart of Jesus. Let
us be generous with God and gentle and indulgent with others, as a
reflection of the charity of the Heart of Jesus.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Seventh Day.
The precious blood obtains the forgiveness of our sins. Then with what
great eagerness should we seek for this pardon! In what an unhappy state
is our soul when stained by sin! By sin death came into the world and into
our heart. We were robbed of the grace of God, lost His friendship, and
came under the dominion of Satan, which is worse than death, and of which
it is true that “it were better we had not been born.” In all this wreck
and misfortune there is but one object to which we can turn, and that is
the sacred blood of Christ as it flows from His wounds, and which He
offers to the Almighty to condone for our faults, and to restore us to the
grace of God. We do not get immunity from corporal death, which they say
mankind would have enjoyed had it not fallen by the sin of our first
parents. We are still afflicted by frailty, ignorance, and the inordinate
demands of passion; but we have received the greatest gift, which cannot
be surpassed by any other: the gift of the sacred blood of Christ.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Eighth Day.
The only thing that is asked of us is a horror of sin. We renounced Satan,
sin, and hell at our baptism, but we are only too apt to forget the
promises made then. During this month we will recall to ourselves our
duty, and impress it deeply upon our souls; we will avoid sin and look
upon it with horror, for it is a most loathsome object, hateful to God,
and consequently it ought to be hateful to us. Sin was punished in the
angels, in Adam, and even in ourselves; we must convince ourselves of this
truth. St. Paul says, “Jesus has redeemed us with His blood,” and for the
destruction of sin has given inexhaustible treasures of grace. O my dear
Jesus, when I remember my sins, I would wish to have the courage to ask
Thee that I might die at Thy feet in punishment for them; but at least
make me really understand that I belong to God, to the angels, that I have
renounced Satan, his demons and darkness, and that I must remain faithful
to the part I have chosen.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Ninth Day.
If we trust in the efficacy of the precious blood, we are sure to remain
in the state of redemption, even though severe temptations assail us. The
devil will surely attack us; but let us not be dismayed, because we are
fortified with supernatural strength by the merits of the blood of Jesus.
These temptations will even be a source of glory to us, for St. James
says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he hath been
proved, he shall receive the crown of life.”—Jas. i. 12. The devil
trembles before a soul that is protected by Christ; he flies because he
knows that there he will find no human weakness. Remember the Jewish
Passover, which was instituted in commemoration of the plague in Egypt:
every first‐born son was to die on that night, unless the blood of the
Lamb was sprinkled on the door‐posts; so also will the devil pass the
house of our soul, when he finds the blood of the Lamb of God used as a
protection. Yes, my dear Jesus, I know that when I am washed in Thy divine
blood in the Sacrament of Penance, or when strengthened by the drinking of
Thy blood in holy communion, the tempter flies from me because he knows he
will be defeated.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Tenth Day.
Sin brings great sorrow and misfortune to a soul. As sin brought all
trouble into the world, so it repeats itself in our souls. Have we not
heard of the wages of sin? No sooner have we revolted against the law of
God than all the unruly passions of our souls are let loose. Incessant
demands are made on our ingenuity to seek for occasions of gratifying our
appetites; ambition, vanity, and pride spur us on to every excess. You can
well imagine that in such a soul there is no peace nor happiness. God
rises in anger against the sinner, the world even strikes us down; we have
the sign of Cain on our forehead, and all nature is at enmity with us.
Where can you find peace for your soul but in Jesus, the Prince of
peace?—Who takes us up and leads us to God, where the past is forgotten
and innocence reigns once more in our hearts. Let us preserve this peace
by a virtuous life, and by observing the Commandments of God. Let us also
keep peace with our neighbor; let us love him because he is our brother,
redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Eleventh Day.
If our heart is to preserve the true, interior peace of God, we must
approach the Lord Jesus with the cross, and with the blood that falls on
us beneath the cross we must wash away the stains of sin. St. Francisca of
Rome had a vision in which she saw many chains issuing from the wounds of
Our Lord’s sacred body, and these went out to a multitude of souls and
bound them to the Redeemer. She understood that in this attachment was the
peace, the happiness, and the victory of many who otherwise would have
perished. Let us look for the particular chain intended for us, as we can
thereby bind ourselves to the contemplation of the Passion, in which we
shall find peace and comfort as long as we remain faithful. Heavenly
Father, I offer to Thee, for Thy glory and my salvation, the blood of
Jesus; let me appreciate its value in its fulness. Thou, my Jesus, seest
the many dangers by which I am surrounded, and as Thou didst at one time
command the winds to cease and the waves of the stormy sea to be calm, so
watch over me that I may find peace in Thy service and be attached to Thee
out of love for that peace which Thou alone canst give.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twelfth Day.
Our Lord had a great desire to gain our souls. He made it easy for us to
approach His sacred wounds, from whence the blood flowed. He instituted
the Blessed Sacrament for our nourishment; speaking of this sacred blood,
He said: “Drink ye all of this; this is My blood; and if any thirst let
him come to Me and I will give him to drink.” The sacraments are nothing
but channels by which the blood of Christ is conveyed to our souls. It was
the Passion and sufferings of Christ that gave the sacraments their
efficacy. The water of Baptism becomes, as it were, the blood of Christ;
the penitential accusation is carried to the presence of the Lord Himself,
and by the mouth of the priest He speaks the absolution; the blood of
Christ is in reality in the Holy Eucharist. Confirmation makes us strong
Christians, because the blood of Christ is there, and the Spirit of God
comes to complete the work of Jesus. What is Extreme Unction but the
application of the blood of Christ to the sick, that they may become
strong?
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Thirteenth Day.
St. Bernard says of the blood of Christ: “that it is like a trumpet that
calls for mercy; it is a voice that speaks more strongly than Abel’s, not
for vengeance but for forgiveness. This blood binds the hands of God’s
justice.” We may then hope that the voice of this adorable blood will be
raised in our behalf, as it was used to promise the penitent thief eternal
happiness. It was with sincere love that Jesus Christ cried to the
heavenly Father for us. He came to this world that His blood might always
call to God for mercy. His blood was spilled over the surface of the
earth, that all mankind might drink of its benefits. Satiated by the
precious blood we will really hate sin, we will triumph over our evil
passions, we will substitute virtues in their stead. Jesus is the fountain
of all graces; it is He that takes such a great interest in us that
whatever we do in His name will add to our glory, so that though we may
have been poor and despised creatures, by the blood of Christ we have been
ennobled and made heirs of the kingdom of God.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Fourteenth Day.
When Our Lord died on the cross one of the soldiers pierced His side, to
make sure that He was dead. It was a real death, for we know that blood
and water poured from that wound. Here we see the water of Baptism applied
to our souls; in Baptism we are born again, we become children of God, our
sins are forgiven and we have a right to the reward of heaven. We are no
longer outcasts, nor an accursed race; we have become children of God. And
why? Because we have become the brothers of Jesus Christ, Who is a child
of God, the Son of God; it was this Child that made us children too,
because from His sacred side on the cross He poured out water and blood
over the human race; the curse was taken away from the race of mankind,
and they may now go to heaven if they will. But have we preserved this
life of grace, this new life of a supernatural order? No, indeed. There is
not a human creature on the earth that has been cleansed by the blood of
Christ, but has fallen back, and rebelled against God.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Fifteenth Day.
Man’s life is a struggle for good from the beginning to the end. We are
taken out of wickedness by Baptism, and we are frequently redeemed by
penance. We need a sacrament that will give us perseverance. “Be thou
faithful unto death,” is the watchword that St. John cries out to the
bishop in the Apocalypse, “and I will give thee the crown of life.” We are
never sure of ourselves; even the sharpest intellect will not be able to
say whether he be worthy of God’s wrath or of God’s love. Therefore Jesus
Christ has applied the merits of His sacred blood to the Sacrament of
Confirmation, by which we are to be made strong, by which human weakness
is to be taken away. After receiving this sacrament what noble works we
are capable of! In the olden ages martyrs died for Christ; mothers saw
their children martyred before their eyes, all for the love of Jesus,
strengthened by this sacrament. People give up the world and persevere in
the heroic practice of virtue by the grace of the precious blood of Jesus.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Sixteenth Day.
How comes it that although we are endowed with virtue from on high,
nevertheless we sometimes make the blood of Christ of no avail to us? By
Confirmation we ought to be perfect Christians, and still we are far from
being such. The reason of our weakness, is that we are addicted to the
things of this world, and we are very much inclined to follow the demands
of our passions. We do not place implicit confidence in the efficacy of
the precious blood; we do not desire to be cured of our maladies; we do
not pray to be freed from our evil inclinations. What great strength did
not the saints gather from the precious blood! How strong they were
against the devil! How mortified their lives! How sincere in the service
of God—and all through the power of that sacred blood. How firm the
martyrs stood in their testimony for the faith! how many Christians
persevere in doing good by means of the graces derived from the adoration
of the precious blood! If we would be as they were, we must turn to the
suffering Jesus, and adjure Him, by the blood that He shed, to sustain us
also in our struggle against the foes of our salvation.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Seventeenth Day.
In nothing is the beauty of the Church more noticeable than in her love of
devotions. The devotion to the precious blood becomes manifest on many
occasions. She has established the feast of the precious blood, and others
more or less intimately united to this sacred practice of piety. Full of
divine instincts, her worship grows with all the exuberance of a tropical
plant, covering herself with verdure and blossom; she makes devotions of
joys and of sorrows; none of the old blossoms fall off—on the contrary new
varieties make their appearance. The Church is more beautiful now than she
was three centuries ago, and three centuries from the present time new
glories will have developed themselves. Every century has given rise to
new devotions, according to the needs of the Church. Sometimes a holy man
looks at the incarnation in a new light, and a new devotion springs up.
The devotion of the Holy Childhood has developed itself into devotion to
the Infant of Prague, or has taken a more practical turn in the society of
the Holy Childhood for the redemption of heathen children.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Eighteenth Day.
Who were the great worshippers of the precious blood? St. Paul wrote in
his epistles most beautifully of the precious blood, and he may be said to
be the author of this devotion. It was in this devotion that the power of
his apostolate consisted. St. Chrysostom, the great preacher of the East,
spoke most touchingly of the precious blood, and of the sufferings of Our
Lord. St. Augustine, after his conversion, attributed all his improvement
in the supernatural life to the love that Jesus bore him. St. Gertrude’s
writings are full of the most beautiful sentiments concerning the precious
blood. In modern times, St. Catharine of Sienna, the prophetess of the
precious blood, singled out this devotion with a special love, with
reference to the needs of her time, to which, in her judgment, sufficient
importance had not been given. We read of Frances of the Mother of God, a
Carmelite, that these words of the Apocalypse were deeply imprinted in her
mind: “He hath loved us, and washed away our sins in His blood.” Our Lord
said to her interiorly, “I have shed My blood for your sins, and now I
come in holy communion to wash away the stains which remain.” When she had
received Our Lord she saw her soul all covered with blood.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Nineteenth Day.
In the life of the Venerable Ann of Jesus, a companion of St. Teresa, we
read that at communion her mouth was sensibly filled with very sweet
blood, which flowed from the Host. St. Clare of Rimini’s holy and
mysterious thirst was appeased only by the blood in the Host. Marcella
Benci used to serve St. Philip of Neri’s Mass, and frequently saw the
chalice full of blood. Margaret Beanne the Carmelite saw habitually the
blood of Jesus in the souls of men; they were so beautified by it that she
could not bear to hear any one censured because of the reverence she felt
even for the souls of the wicked, for she saw them covered with the blood
of Jesus. Sister Benedict of Egersheim after communion used to feel
sensibly Our Lord’s blood flowing as a torrent down into the abyss of her
soul, and burning away all the remnants of sin, leaving her a most pure
vessel of sanctity. Such are some of the examples of the thoughts and
experience of the saints in communing with the precious blood, which made
them what they were, friends of God and intimate with Jesus Christ, the
Spouse of their souls.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twentieth Day.
There is no surer sign of the growth of a special devotion than when the
Church erects a confraternity in its honor. These confraternities keep the
devotion alive, direct it, and embody all its practices. There is the
archconfraternity of the Precious Blood in Rome, and this confraternity
forms the keystone of all the confraternities throughout the world. Popes
have enriched it with many indulgences, and have given to the Passionists
and to the missionaries of the precious blood special blessings. Among the
people of Spain we notice particularly the rise and continuance of
societies devoted to the honoring of the precious blood. Leo XIII.
enriched the societies with many indulgences. Pope Pius IX., of glorious
memory, authorized the wearing of the red scapular. When he returned from
exile he instituted a new feast distinct from the one celebrated in Lent.
So many favors have been granted to it that we receive the impression that
it is the special devotion of the Holy See.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐first Day.
The devotion to the precious blood is especially opportune for our
days—these days of infidelity and of atheism. It shows that the redemption
is due to the efficacy of the precious blood. It throws out into strong
light the most intimate relation of the incarnation; it meets the false
spirituality which we conceive of the sacred humanity of Christ. It is a
revelation of the character of God, as well as of the work of Jesus; it
brings into our heart the love of the kingdom of God, and thus we begin
again to have faith, the right faith as it is given us by the Church. We
are aroused to the love of Jesus, and feel sensibly that He is still in
the Church, and that His sacred blood is even now performing wonders. O my
soul, what unthought‐of greatness is in the precious blood of Jesus! how
charming is the devotion, and how many souls labor under its benign
influence! Let me, O my sweet Jesus, reverence that precious blood, and
apply it to my soul for an increase of faith in God and His revelations,
in hope for a happy future, and in love for Christ crucified.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐second Day.
The devotion of the precious blood very materially supports the devotion
to the Passion of Our Lord. It furnishes a point of view from which we may
regard each separate suffering, each separate wound, and mould it into one
universal consideration. It is thus a unity of the devotion to the
Passion, as well as a variety of it, besides being in itself an additional
devotion. The precious blood brings vividness to the meditation on the
Passion. There is no greater devotion than meditation on the Passion; the
saints have always made it the help and consolation of their progress.
What is consideration of the precious blood but a contemplation of the
Passion under another aspect? We bring the entire Passion under the head
of one mystery, and still we preserve all the details, so that the Passion
and the precious blood are the favorite contemplations of all devout
Christians. O dear Jesus crucified, make me love the cross; make me desire
to stand beneath the cross, in order to receive on my soul one drop of
that precious blood which is being poured out for my redemption.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐third Day.
The closest alliance, however, is between the precious blood and the
Sacred Heart. The Heart of Jesus is the centre of our affection; it is the
source from which the blood of Christ is drawn, the wealth of the Sacred
Heart. It is the blood that warms that Heart and makes it beat for our
sakes, so that every pulsation is an act of love for the human race. The
Heart of Jesus teaches us to hate sin; the precious blood so copiously
shed for our redemption inculcates the hatred of sin. We hate sin purely,
manfully, and strongly; we do penance, we mortify ourselves, we mourn over
our sins and the sins of others. All this is taught by the sacred blood of
Our Lord; it is surely a valuable lesson which we ought to learn, since
the instruction is given in so forcible a manner, and is so frequently
inculcated.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐fourth Day.
There is a virtue which, in the language of the theologians of the Church,
is called the angelic virtue: a virtue most pleasing to God. It is
chastity. The precious blood makes us chaste according to our state of
life; it makes those pure and virginal who practise this devotion and
gives them the grace to preserve purity and to persevere in it. This
virtue renders us very pleasing to almighty God, Who loves pure souls.
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God,” and chastity is
an expression of the purity of the soul. The devil makes the greatest
efforts to deprive us of this great treasure. The greatest and most
frequent temptation which we have to endure is certainly that against
purity. Our body seems to be full of impurity, our imaginations crowded
with thoughts of a defiling character. The virtue of purity endears us to
Mary, the purest of virgins; she loves those whom God regards with special
favor, and to whom He has promised the particular privilege of
contemplating Him for all eternity.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐fifth Day.
How beautiful a virtue is true humility! We love and admire it in others,
but we ourselves are far from possessing it. Humility is the foundation on
which all other virtues are built. Pride is a most hateful vice in the
sight of God, for He would rather receive a humble sinner than a saint
inclined to pride. God resists the proud, and gives His grace to the
humble. The devotion of the precious blood will secure humility. Jesus
shed His blood amid the greatest humiliations. In the Garden of Olives,
bowed to the earth, He poured forth His blood in an agony of shame and
horror over the sins of men; He was beaten like a slave in the court of
Pilate; the blood poured from His face, wounded by blows and defiled by
spittle, and from His head crowned with thorns. It stained the streets of
Jerusalem on His way to Calvary; it flowed to the foot of the cross, as He
hung and died between two malefactors, where He was considered the most
abject of men. Let us learn the lesson of humility from the death of
Christ.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐sixth Day.
Zeal for souls, zeal for the glory of God, was the motive that induced the
Son of God to come down from heaven to suffer and die on the cross. Might
not we, also, do something for the glory of God and the good of souls, if
we had a little zeal towards that end? The apostles learned zeal from the
Passion of Our Lord. When the Lord had died on the cross, they became
inflamed with zeal and worked in an apostolic manner that souls might be
brought to the kingdom of God; suffering became precious in their sight,
because they endured it for the good of humanity. We that profess the love
of the precious blood must also have zeal for the salvation of souls. What
can we do? We can pray; we can offer up our petitions incessantly for some
particular individual until we are heard; we can surround people by such
influences that their minds will be changed and brought back to God. But
frequently we are inactive and inattentive to these means which God has
given us; we are not filled with zeal for furthering the devotion to
Christ’s precious blood, and for the salvation of souls.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐seventh Day.
As we may do much good by a prudent zeal for the living, we can still more
benefit the souls in purgatory by the application of the merits of the
precious blood. Those souls are already in the hands of God, undergoing a
purification to fit them to enter heaven. They can do nothing for
themselves; they must patiently endure the just punishment that is meted
out to them. But the Church teaches us that we can help them, and we are
encouraged to use the means which God has placed in our hands. Those who
are in purgatory will surely go to heaven, but we can shorten their
purification by prayer. Our supplications for the souls in purgatory may
be even more productive of good than praying for the living, for these may
resist the goodness of God and render themselves unworthy of further
graces, while the souls in purgatory, being the friends of God, will
readily receive the benefit of our prayers. Purgatory is an effect of sin,
and sin and its effects are effaced by the blood of Christ. The Apostle
has said that Jesus loved us, and has given His blood to wash us.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐eighth Day.
The sacred wounds of Our Lord are those abundant springs from which flow
the kindness and charity of God. Many saints have had revelations and
visions of this in their ecstatic prayers. St. Gertrude saw streams of
blood issuing from the wounds of Our Lord and flowing like rivers through
the Church, rendering her fruitful in many heroic virtues. How can we have
any merit unless we receive it from Our Lord? for without Him we can do
nothing. To do something meritorious, then, we should have recourse to Our
Lord in prayer. Our prayers would fall to the ground and be without
result, unless helped by the pleading of the precious blood; our works of
mortification would be useless, our penance vain attempts for forgiveness,
unless the precious blood made them efficacious. As the sun gives light to
the world, enlightening and fructifying it, so the precious blood shines
on our actions and makes them glow with a supernatural merit. There are
some virtues which we may practise to a certain degree, but how imperfect
are the best intentions, without God’s love as a motive.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twenty‐ninth Day.
Remember that perseverance is the great grace which we are all striving
for. It is not a grace that we can merit at any one time, for it is only a
continuation of fidelity. It is a very important grace; what does it
profit to have gained all possible graces, and to be filled with
consolation, when in the end we shall not be counted among the elect of
God? He is, of course, interested in your eternal salvation—in other
words, your final perseverance. But we are living in a state of probation
here; it is not possible, except in some special case of extraordinary
grace, that we could be possibly in any other state than doubt as regards
the future. It is natural for those who are on trial to fear that they
will not succeed; there are so many a great deal better than we are that
when we compare their excellence with our weak efforts to do right, we
feel so inferior that we are afraid of being rejected. Hence it is that we
are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, lest we may
not reach the end for which we have been created.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Thirtieth Day.
Final perseverance can be obtained only through our humble faithfulness to
God and continued prayers. When we pray to the Lord, and beg of Him by His
precious blood to give us the grace of perseverance, or when we go to God
the Father, and offer Him the sacred blood of Jesus as a sacrifice, that
He may give us extraordinary grace to enable us to continue in His
service, He is not obliged to give it, but He will, just as a friend who
wishes to keep you attached to him gives you many presents and favors. We
must also turn to Mary in this doubtful struggle for eternal happiness.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, has much to do with our salvation; we should
not despise her help. She supplied, as you may say, the precious blood to
Our Lord, by feeding Him with the milk of her breast. Or, as St. Bernard
tells us, mixing the milk of the Mother with the blood of the Son, in
order to prepare for us a most delicious drink. Mary ceases not to work in
heaven for the salvation of souls and for the conversion of poor sinners.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Thirty‐first Day.
St. Alphonsus, in speaking of the precious blood, says: “So, then, my
Jesus, in order to save my soul, Thou hast prepared a bath of Thine own
blood wherein to cleanse it from the filth of its sins. If. then, our
souls have been bought by Thy blood, ‘For you are bought with a great
price’ (1 Cor. vi. 20), it is a sign that Thou lovest them much; and as
Thou dost love them, let us pray thus to Thee: ‘We therefore pray Thee to
help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.’ It is
true that by my sins I have separated myself from Thee, and have knowingly
lost Thee. But remember, my Jesus, that Thou hast bought me with Thy
blood. Ah, may this blood not have been given in vain for me, which was
shed with so much grief and so much love.” We ought to read these words
over and over again, until they penetrate our souls with that devotion to
the precious blood which this great saint possessed, filling all our daily
lives with a heavenly sweetness.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Mass in Honor of the Precious Blood.
Introit.
When the priest goes up to the altar to say Mass, think that the
Lord is about to celebrate the Last Supper, during which He
instituted the Holy Eucharist, and gave His flesh as food, and His
blood as drink, to all the disciples present.
With a confident heart I am about to hear this holy Mass, to offer this
holy sacrifice with the priest. I offer it to the Blessed Trinity, as the
greatest means to obtain spiritual benefits for myself and those for whom
I intend to pray, that we all may receive what is most needful for our
body, but especially for our soul. Amen.
Confiteor.
I know, O my God, that I am unworthy to be admitted so closely to the Holy
of holies, or to be here during the celebration of the sacred mysteries: I
am unworthy on account of my many sins. O my God, I beg pardon for them,
and I am sure that I will receive forgiveness. I resolve to live a good
life so that, purified, I may look up to the sacred mountain, where
resides the God Who renews my youth. Yes, I have sinned against Thee, and
against heaven. I am not worthy to be called Thy child. Amen.
Kyrie.
When the priest goes up to the altar and kisses it, remember the
infamous kiss of Judas, think of your own infidelities, and cry
out nine times with the priest: Lord, have mercy on us, Christ,
have mercy on us. With your whole heart and soul join the choirs
of angels in singing a hymn of praise to the Almighty, for all the
mercies He has shown us by the sufferings and death of His divine
Son. Offer up these sufferings for the benefit of the Church, for
peace and harmony among nations, that the world may by the death
of Christ enjoy a peace that will conduce to the acknowledgment of
God’s dominion over all mankind, that it may enjoy the benefit of
the incarnation and death of the Lord.
Offertory.
I offer to Thee, O my God, with the priest, the bread and wine as did Our
Lord, Who wished us to do it in commemoration of Him. I offer to Thee the
pains which He endured at the bitter crowning, when the thorns were
pressed deep into His sacred head, and the precious blood flowed from the
wounds thus made, covering His whole face and disfiguring it so that it no
longer resembled a human countenance. I offer to Thee those sighs and
secret prayers which He offered, to atone for my wilful distractions in
prayer, my waywardness in thought, my unbridled imagination, for my pride
and disobedience, for all my errors, and for the errors of heretics and
schismatics, that Thou mayest send them the grace of conversion. Amen.
Gospel.
Remember, O God, the sufferings of the Lord when He was dragged before
Caiphas and Pontius Pilate. I offer myself to the guidance of Thy
providence; do with me what Thou wilt for Thy glory. May Thy holy Gospel
be always a consolation to me in all my troubles, and a guide to my
conduct, so that, leading a good Christian life during the remainder of my
stay in this world, I may direct my steps to heaven. Amen.
Credo.
I believe in the teachings of the Church; with a full acceptance I have
accepted Christianity, let me remain faithful to it under all
circumstances. Come to the assistance of my unbelief, that I may firmly
profess my faith openly before the world. I believe, especially, in the
efficacy of the Passion and the glory of the cross, a humiliation to the
people of the world, but a source of comfort and salvation to me. I
believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who taught me the articles of the
creed. I believe in the Church which He has established. I believe in the
forgiveness of my sins through the merits of the Passion and blood of the
Lord. Amen.
Lavabo.
Remember, O God, for my sake, the washing of the hands of Pilate, as a
sign of the innocence of the Lamb of God and His freedom from sin. Pilate
washed his hands as a sign that he was not guilty of the murder of Christ,
but I must acknowledge that I have condemned Jesus to death by my
sinfulness. My declaration of justice will not suffice, but do Thou
declare me pardoned. O my God, let me hear the words, “Thy sins are
forgiven thee.” Amen.
Orate Fratres.
I call to mind the scene when Pilate presented Jesus to the Jewish rabble,
all covered with blood, with a crown of thorns on His head, His sacred
body torn with the lashes of the scourging, and enveloped in a purple
mantle. Pilate says, “Behold the man!” But the Jews cry out, and oh, how
their cruel words sound in my ears, “Crucify Him, crucify Him”! Look upon
our Jesus, O God, as He stands there, claiming the kindness of some good
heart, and through His precious blood have mercy on us. Amen.
Canon.
I will now, O my God, with the angels, bow low before Thee, and cry Holy,
holy, holy, God of hosts! The angels continually cry thus to Thee in
heaven. I ought to be engaged here on earth in the same occupation. But
let me continue to meditate on the sacred Passion of Thy Son and how He
carried His cross. I offer Thee the way of the cross which He made, and
all the suffering which He endured during it. He fell three times to the
ground, crushed by its weight; stains of blood from His recent scourging
marked His path. I see the Cyrenean unwilling to carry the cross for
Jesus. Veronica wipes His face, and the women of Jerusalem weep over the
cruelty that the Lord had to endure. I offer to Thee the bitter meeting of
Mary and her beloved Son. May I be encouraged, through Christ’s Passion,
to take the cross on my own shoulders, and carry it with joy. I offer Thee
the painful carrying of the cross for all poor Christians who have heavy
crosses to bear, and who are bearing them patiently; for the sick, the
dying, the poor orphan child, the patient mother who labors, with
resignation to Thy holy will, for those dependent on her, and for all who
have to suffer on this earth. Let me understand, O my Jesus, the valuable
lesson that I deserve to suffer on account of my many sins. Amen.
Elevation Of The Host And Chalice.
I believe, my Jesus, that Thou art now present on this altar; that this
bread is now Thy body, and this wine is now Thy blood. Now, O my God, Thy
beloved Son has arrived at Calvary. His garments are torn off, and He is
nailed to the cross. He is raised, and suspended between heaven and earth,
with hands and arms outstretched. There He hangs for three hours, and
makes the sacrifice of Himself to Thee, His heavenly Father, for the
salvation of the human race. O heavenly Father, look down on this altar
and hear the sighs of Thy pleading Son! This is the same sacrifice as that
on Calvary: let this Mass, then, have a great spiritual benefit to all on
earth. This precious blood is offered up every day on our altars, to
obtain pardon for our sins, and new graces for the future. Amen.
Agnus Dei.
I now contemplate Jesus hanging on the cross, His blood flowing from His
wounds. I adore Thee on the cross, I listen to Thy words as Thou dost pray
for sinners. This holy sacrifice is for them: Christ is the willing Victim
that is expiating the sins of mankind; He thirsts for souls on the cross.
Father Creator, why dost Thou not create new creatures, and satisfy the
thirst of Thy divine Son? Thou canst force the wicked to a change of
heart, as Thou didst St. Paul. “Create a clean heart in me, O my God.” But
to bring the sacrifice to completion, after the three hours of agony the
voice of Jesus is heard exclaiming, “It is consummated.” All is completed;
the sufferings and humiliation of the cross are over. Amen.
Communion.
Would, O my Jesus, that I were in a state to go and unite myself to Thee!
At least I will unite myself in a spiritual manner. I should always be so
full of love towards Thee as to think ever of Thee, and desire to be
closely united to Thee and to have Thee buried in my heart. Let me
consider before Thee, O heavenly Father, that the sacrifice of the cross
is completed, that Thou hast accepted it, and dost look upon the earth
with pity and mercy. Still the cruelty of the Jews is not satisfied. They
have one more wound to inflict on the Lord. A soldier with a lance opens
the sacred side of Our Lord, to demonstrate to every one that the Victim
is really dead. O my God, I offer Thee these last marks of the love of the
dead Jesus, the wound in His sacred side, and the drops of blood and water
which issue therefrom. O my Jesus, Thy heart is open for my reception. I
will take refuge therein, away from the temptations of the world. Give me
the grace not to fall into mortal sin, as well as to persevere in my
resolution to avoid even small sins to the end of my life. I pray for the
poor souls in purgatory, for my parents, relatives, sisters and brothers.
I recommend to the goodness of Thy Sacred Heart all my benefactors, all
those who need my prayers, all the poor, the miserable, and the wretched.
I pray also for my country; for peace, prosperity, and love among all the
nations that have gathered here to make this their fatherland. I pray also
for the conversion of all to the faith, that this may be the kingdom of
God here on earth, one sheepfold of Christ, the Good Shepherd. I offer to
Thee, O my God, all the sufferings of Jesus for these necessities. Amen.
Conclusion Of The Mass.
In order that this day may be most profitable to me, and to those for whom
I have offered this Mass, O heavenly Father, I join myself in spirit in
all the Masses that are continually being said all over the world. What
great graces are given to mankind by this unceasing succession of
oblations of the precious body and blood of Christ! I offer to Thee, also,
O my Saviour, all the pious works which are done by so many faithful
Christians all over the world. I offer all the confessions, communions,
rosaries, and all prayers, as well as all good works of fasting,
almsgiving, and penances which are done. I wish to gain all the
indulgences which are within my reach to‐day, that I may apply them to the
souls in purgatory. Now that the priest is about to bless the people in
Thy name, do Thou bless me, as well as those for whom I have prayed. Pour
out, by the hands of the priest, the blessing of Thy precious blood with
all its merit and innumerable graces, on the souls in purgatory. Purify us
from our sins by means of this blessing, and give us strength and courage
to do good works. Protect us, Thy children and the heirs of Thy kingdom,
and lead us to eternal happiness in company with all the saints in heaven.
Amen.
Thanksgiving After Mass.
I thank Thee, O my God, at the end of this Mass, for all the graces which
I have received during it. The grace of attention to this holy sacrifice,
the grace of faith by which I really saw the dying Jesus offered to God
the Father, and His sacred blood applied to the wounds of my soul. I thank
Thee for that love which has made me come here, and spend some time in the
service of God. May I preserve, to the end of my life, the graces which I
have received, so that they may bring me to heaven. The love of God
almighty, the grace of His divine Son, and the imparting of the Holy
Ghost, be always with me and all the faithful throughout the world. The
power of the precious blood, the treasure of the merits of the Blessed
Virgin, and the intercession of all the saints accompany me now to my
home, to my daily work, and make all that I say and do faithful to eternal
life. Amen.
Three Offerings of the Precious Blood.
In thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which the most
holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, was enriched, more especially
those which she received in her immaculate conception.
1. Eternal Father, in union with the most holy and immaculate Virgin, and
in her name, and in union with, and in the name of all the blessed in
heaven, and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee the most precious
blood of Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with
which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most obedient daughter, particularly
in her immaculate conception. I offer Thee also this precious blood for
the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy
holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor, the Bishop
of Rome, and according to his intentions.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
2. Eternal and Incarnate Word, in union with the most holy and immaculate
Virgin, and in her name, and in union with, and in the name of all the
blessed in heaven, and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee Thine own
most precious blood, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with
which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most loving Mother, particularly in
her immaculate conception. I offer Thee also this precious blood for the
conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy holy
Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor, the Bishop of
Rome, and according to his intentions.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
3. Holy and eternal Spirit, in union with the most holy and immaculate
Virgin, and in her name, and in union with, and in the name of all the
blessed in heaven, and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee the most
precious blood of Jesus, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with
which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most faithful spouse, particularly
in her immaculate conception. I offer Thee also this precious blood for
the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy
holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor, the Bishop
of Rome, and according to his intentions.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood of Jesus.
1. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for the propagation and
exaltation of my dear Mother the holy Church, for the safety and
prosperity of her visible head, the holy Roman Pontiff, for the cardinals,
bishops and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.
_V._ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
_R._ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, Who hath saved us with His
blood.
2. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for the peace and concord
of kings and Catholic princes, for the humiliation of the enemies of the
holy faith, and for the happiness of all Christian people.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised, etc.
3. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for the repentance of
unbelievers, the extirpation of all heresies and the conversion of
sinners.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised, etc.
4. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all those who shall
this day pass to another life, that Thou mayest deliver them from the
pains of hell and admit them the more readily to the possession of Thy
glory.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised, etc.
5. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all my relatives,
friends, and enemies, for the poor, the sick, and those in tribulation,
and for all those for whom Thou willest I should pray, or knowest that I
ought to pray.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised, etc.
6. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all those who are
lovers of this treasure of His blood, and for all those who join with me
in adoring and honoring it, and for all those who try to spread the
devotion to it.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised, etc.
7. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of
Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all my wants, both
spiritual and temporal, for the holy souls in purgatory, and particularly
for those, who in their lifetime were most devoted to this price of our
redemption, and to the sorrows and pains of our dear Mother, the most holy
Mary.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised, etc.
Blessed and exalted be the blood of Jesus, now and always, and through
eternity.
Daily Offering.
O my Lord and my God! I commend myself to Thy adorable Heart, and in Thy
sacred wounds I resign myself to Thy holy will this day and forever.
Include me, O my Lord and my God, in all the holy Masses that have been or
will be offered up this day in the whole world. O Lord, I desire to share
in all holy communions, all holy Benedictions, in all indulgences, in all
the merits and prayers of devout hearts now and forever. O my Lord and my
God! I offer Thee all my steps, all my weariness and labors, all my cares
and antipathies, all my crosses, sufferings, ignominies, injuries,
persecutions, and adversities; these I offer Thee in honor of Thy holy
humanity and of Thy most bitter Passion and death; in the merits of all
these I include (_here mention the names of those for whom you wish to
pray in particular_), all my relatives, benefactors, friends, enemies, the
sick and dying, those who are in temptation or oppressed; all that have
commended themselves to my prayers, or for whom I have promised to pray;
those to whom I have given scandal, or whom I have in any way enticed to
sin; my parents, sisters, and brothers, who have departed this life, and
all the souls of the faithful departed. My crucified Saviour, have mercy
on the most suffering and abandoned souls in purgatory, also on me, a poor
sinner; give me the grace I daily need to serve Thee faithfully until
death. I return Thee thanks, thousands and millions of thanks, for all the
favors and benefits which Thou hast heaped on me from the first moment of
my existence to the present hour. I pray Thee to preserve me always in Thy
holy grace, particularly at the hour of my death. Amen.
Plenary Indulgences For Members of the Confraternity of the Most Precious
Blood.
On the day of registration to those who, having confessed and
communicated, shall pray according to the intention of the Supreme
Pontiff. At the hour of death, after confession and communion; or
if this be impossible, to such as being contrite, shall invoke
with the lips, or if unable, with the heart, the most sweet name
of Jesus. Daily for those, who, with confession and communion,
shall make an hour’s vocal or mental prayer, or partly one and
partly the other, in memory of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the dolors of the most holy Mary, praying as above.
Other Plenary Indulgences.
For which, besides the conditions of confession and communion, a
visit is enjoined to any church whatever; and this visit may, for
any reasonable motive, be commuted by the confessor of the
individual for some other pious work.
On the first Sunday of July, being the feast of the Precious
Blood; Christmas day, the Epiphany, Easter Sunday, the feasts of
the Immaculate Conception, Purification, Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin, and of the most holy Rosary; the feast of the holy
apostles Saints Peter and Paul; and on the commemoration of all
the faithful departed.
On the feast of the Circumcision, on all the Fridays of March, on
the 28th of March, being the feast of the Sacred Blood in Sta.
Maria in Vado at Ferrara, on Holy Thursday, on the day of the
Invention of the Holy Cross, on Ascension day, Pentecost, Corpus
Christi, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the feast of the
most holy Redeemer, the 23d of October.
On the feast of the Annunciation, the Dolors of the most holy
Mary, Good Friday, Our Lady of Carmel (July 16th), the Nativity,
Seven Dolors (third Sunday of September), and the Presentation of
the Blessed Virgin (November 21st).
On the feasts of St. Joseph, St. John Baptist, All Saints, St.
Francis Xavier, and of St. Nicholas of Bari.
Once a month on any day they may choose.
Indulgences for all the Faithful, even Such as are not Members.
For such as shall recite the Chaplet of the Precious Blood once in
the day, seven years and as many quarantines; and if they recite
it daily for a month, a plenary indulgence, having confessed and
communicated, on the last day of the month, or any day in the
following month. (Pius VII., Oct. 18, 1815.)
The same indulgence can be gained by the recital of thirty‐three
Our Fathers, meditating at the same time on the seven times Our
Lord shed His precious blood; or, by such as are uninstructed and
incompetent to meditate, by the simple recital of the thirty‐three
Our Fathers. (Gregory XVI., July 5, 1843.)
For the prayer, “O most precious blood, etc.,” placed at the end
of the Chaplet, three hundred days’ indulgence, once a day.
Chaplet of the Precious Blood.
This chaplet is composed of seven mysteries, in which we meditate
upon the seven times in which Jesus Christ for love of us shed
blood from His most innocent body; at each mystery, except the
last, we are to say five Our Fathers and one Glory be to the
Father, thus making up the number of thirty‐three Our Fathers in
remembrance of the thirty‐three years during which the precious
blood of Jesus flowed in His veins, before it was all poured out
for our salvation. The Chaplet ends with the devout prayer, “O
most precious blood, etc.”
The Chaplet.
_V._ Incline unto my aid, O God.
_R._ O Lord, make haste to help me.
_V._ Glory be to the Father, etc.
_R._ As it was, etc.
First Mystery.
The first time our loving Saviour shed His precious blood for us was on
the eighth day after His birth, when He was circumcised in order to
accomplish the Law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that Jesus did this
to satisfy the justice of God for our dissolute lives, let us excite
ourselves to true sorrow for them, and promise, with the help of His all‐
powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul.
Five Our Fathers and one Glory.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with
Thy precious blood.
Second Mystery.
Next in the Garden of Olives, Jesus shed His blood for us in such quantity
that it bathed the earth around. This took place at the sight of the
ingratitude with which men would meet His love. Oh, let us then repent
sincerely, because we have hitherto corresponded so illy with the
innumerable benefits of Our God, and resolve to make good use of His
graces and holy inspirations.
Five Our Fathers, etc.
We beseech, etc.
Third Mystery.
Next, in His cruel scourging, Jesus shed His blood, when His flesh was so
torn that rivers of blood flowed from His body in every part, all of which
He offered, all the time, to His eternal Father in payment of our
impatience and our delicacy. How is it, then, we do not curb our anger and
our self‐love? Henceforth we will indeed try our very best to bear our
troubles well, and, despising ourselves, to take peacefully the injuries
which men may do us.
Five Our Fathers, etc.
We beseech, etc.
Fourth Mystery.
Again, from the sacred head of Jesus, blood poured down when it was
crowned with thorns, in punishment of our pride and evil thoughts. Shall
we, then, continue to nurture haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and
feed the wayward will in our minds? Henceforth let there ever be before
our eyes our utter nothingness, our misery and our weakness; and with
generous hearts let us resist all the wicked suggestions of the devil.
Five Our Fathers, etc.
We beseech, etc.
Fifth Mystery.
How much of His precious blood did not our loving Lord pour forth from His
veins, when laden with the heavy wood of the cross on the mournful way to
Calvary, so that the streets and ways of Jerusalem through which He passed
were watered with it! This was done in satisfaction for the scandals and
the bad examples by which His own creatures had led others astray on the
way to ruin. Who can tell how many of us are of this unhappy number? Who
knows how many he himself alone has by his own bad example brought down to
hell? And have we done anything to remedy this evil? Let us henceforth, at
least, endeavor all we can to save souls by word and by example, making
ourselves a pattern to all of a good and holy life.
Five Our Fathers, etc.
We beseech, etc.
Sixth Mystery.
Still more copiously the Redeemer of mankind shed blood in His barbarous
crucifixion; when His veins being rent and arteries burst, there rushed
forth in a torrent from His hands and His feet that saving balm of life
eternal, to pay for all the crimes and enormities of the universe.
Whoever, after this, would continue in sin, and so renew the cruel
crucifixion of the Son of God? Let us weep bitterly for our bad deeds, and
let us detest them at the feet of the sacred minister of God; let us amend
our evil ways, and henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the
thought ever in our hearts of all the blood which our eternal salvation
cost the Saviour of men.
Five Our Fathers, etc.
We beseech, etc.
Seventh Mystery.
Last of all, after His death, when His sacred side was opened, and His
loving Heart was wounded, Jesus shed blood, and with the blood there came
forth water, to show us how the blood was all poured out to the last drop
for our salvation. Oh, the infinite goodness of Our Redeemer! Who will not
love Thee, my Saviour? What heart will not consume itself away for love of
Thee, Who hast done all this for our redemption? The tongue wants words to
praise Thee; let us, then, invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and
all saints in paradise, and most of all, our dear Mother Mary, to bless,
to praise, and to celebrate Thy most precious blood. Glory to the blood of
Jesus! Glory to the blood of Jesus! now and ever throughout all ages.
Amen.
At this last mystery three Our Fathers and one Glory be to the
Father, etc., are said to make up the number of thirty‐three.
We beseech, etc.
_Then the following_
Prayer.
O most precious blood of eternal life, the ransom and redemption of the
whole universe! the drink and bath of our souls, thou who art ever
pleading the cause of men before the throne of God’s sovereign mercy! I
adore thee most profoundly, and desire, as far as it is in my power, to
compensate thee for the insults and affronts which thou art continually
receiving at the hands of men, especially of those who rashly dare to
blaspheme thee. And who is there that will not bless this blood of
infinite value? Who is there that will not feel himself inflamed with love
for Jesus, Who shed it? What should I be if I had not been redeemed by
this divine blood? What was it that drew thee forth from the veins of my
Lord, even to the last drop? Ah! it was naught else but love. O boundless
love, that has given us this balsam of salvation! O balsam beyond price,
streaming forth from the well‐spring of a boundless love, grant, oh, grant
that every heart and tongue may praise, and magnify, and bless thee, now
and forever, even unto the day of eternity. Amen.
_V._ Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy blood.
_R._ And Thou hast made us a kingdom unto Our God.
O almighty and eternal God, Who hast appointed Thy only‐begotten Son to be
the Redeemer of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His blood,
grant, we beseech Thee, that we may venerate upon earth the price of our
salvation, and be shielded by its might from the evils of this present
life, so that we may enjoy it everlastingly in heaven. Who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen.