The Precious Blood of Jesus

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the Precious Blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. -I Peter 1:18-19

(If you have a sound card, you can listen to the hymn, Glory Be To Jesus)

Glory be to Jesus,
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the Life-Blood
From His sacred veins!

Grace and life eternal
In that Blood I find;
Blest be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!

Blest through endless ages
Be the precious Stream
Which from endless torments
Did the world redeem!

Abel's blood for vengeance
Pleaded to the skies;
But the Blood of Jesus
For our pardon cries.

Oft as earth exulting
Wafts its praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing
Make their glad reply.

Lift we, then, our voices,
Swell the mighty flood,
Louder still and louder
Praise the Precious Blood!¹

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"Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy Blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth." -Revelations 5:9-10< Holy Mother Church has a profound love for the Most Precious Blood of her Divine Spouse, since It is the Price of our salvation! Without the shedding of the Blood of the Lamb of God, we could not be redeemed. Without His cleansing and vivifying Blood coursing through the Church, there would be no Mystical Body of Christ. Without His glorious Blood, the Sacraments would have no effect. Without His redeeming Blood, Mary would never have been conceived without sin, and there would be no saints whatsoever, for "they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb" (Rev 7:14)

The Most Precious Blood of Christ is an aspect of His Sacred Humanity. It is therefore hypostatically united to His Deity, and so can receive our worship, adoration, and love. When we pray to the Precious Blood, we are praying to the Person of Jesus Christ, our Savior, present in His Blood.

Prayer in Honor of the Precious Blood
O Precious Blood of Jesus, infinite Price of our redemption and both the drink and laver of our souls, You continually plead the cause of all people before the throne of Infinite Mercy. From the depths of my heart I adore You. Jesus, insofar as I am able I want to make reparation for the insults and outrages which You receive from human beings, especially from those who blaspheme You and deny Your presence.
Who would not venerate the Blood of infinite value?! Who does not feel inflamed with love for the Jesus Who shed It?! What would have become of me had I not been redeemed by this Divine Blood?! Who has drained It all from the veins of my Savior? Surely this was the work of Love! O Infinite Love, which has given us this saving Balm! O Balm beyond all price, welling up from the foundation of Infinite Love! Grant that every heart and every tongue may render You praise and thanks, now and forever! Amen.

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The Seven Bloodsheddings Of Christ

In him we have redemption through his Blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. -Ephesians 1:7-8

Sacred Scripture mentions seven specific instances in Jesus' life where He shed His Precious Blood, relating to our salvation. Mother Church promotes a devotion to these "Seven Bloodsheddings" of Christ. They are:

The Circumcision: "And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." (Luke 2:21)
The Agony in the Garden: "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of Blood falling down upon the ground." (Lk 22:44)
The Scourging: "Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him." (John 19:1)
The Crowning with Thorns: "And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head." (John 19:2)
The Carrying of the Cross: "So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Gol'gotha." (John 19:17)
The Crucifixion: "There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them." (John 19:18)
The Piercing of His Side: "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out Blood and water." (John 19:34).

Petitions in Honor of the Precious Blood of Jesus

Precious Blood of Jesus, shed in the circumcision, make me pure of mind, heart and body.
Precious Blood, oozing from every pore of Jesus in the Agony, enable me to love God's holy will above all.
Precious Blood, flowing from the scourging at the pillar, inspire me with a sorrow for my sins, and a tolerance for suffering.
Precious Blood, falling in profusion from the crown of thorns, grant me a ready acceptance of humiliations.
Precious Blood, shed profusely in the crucifixion of our Lord, make me die entirely to self-love.
Precious Blood, shed to the very last drop by the opening of Christ's Sacred Heart, give me that generous love which sacrifices all for God.
Precious Blood, sacred Price of my Redemption, apply to me your infinite merits.
Precious Blood, I adore You from the depths of my heart; I invoke You ardently, for You are my salvation, and by You I hope to obtain the joys of heaven. Amen.

Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood

Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my 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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Blessed and praised forevermore be Jesus Who hath saved us by His Precious Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my Redeemer, for the peace and concord of nations, for the conversion of the enemies of our holy Faith, and for the happiness of all Christian people.
Glory be... Blessed and praised...
Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my Redeemer, for the repentance of unbelievers, the extirpation of all heresies and the conversion of sinners.
Glory be... Blessed and praised...
Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my Redeemer, for all my relations, friends and enemies, for the poor, the sick, and those in tribulation, and for all those for whom You will that I should pray, or know that I ought to pray.
Glory be... Blessed and praised...
Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my Redeemer, for all those who shall this day pass to another life that You may preserve them from the pains of Hell and admit them the more readily to the possession of Your Glory.
Glory be... Blessed and praised...
Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my 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 devotion to It.
Glory be... Blessed and praised...
Eternal Father, I offer You the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Your Beloved Son and my Redeemer, for all my wants, 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, Mary most holy.
Glory be... Blessed and praised...
Blessed and exalted be the Blood of Jesus, now and always, and through all eternity! Amen.

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Pope John XXIII did much to promote devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Christ. He released an Apostolic Letter on the devotion, called Sanguis Christi, and approved the following Litany in Honor of the Blood of Jesus.

Litany of the Most Precious Blood

Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word or God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood.
R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.
Let Us Pray
Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, that we may worthily adore this Price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Cup of Blessing, Cup of Salvation

"I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord" -Psalm 116:13
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my Blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins". -Mt 26:27-28
"For my Flesh is food indeed, and my Blood is drink indeed" -John 6:56

As this was a hard saying for Jesus' hearers, so it is difficult today for many of our separated brethren. Yet Sacred Scripture tells us that Jesus truly gives us His Sacred Body and Precious Blood in the Eucharist:

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not a communion in the Body of Christ?" -I Corinthians 10:16

This need not trouble our separated brethren. When we partake of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are not eating dead flesh or blood, since Christ is risen and alive forevermore (Rev 1:10). We are actually receiving the whole Person of our Risen Lord: His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! How wonderful it is to sacramentally partake of the ever-living, glorified Blood of our Risen Savior under the appearance of bread and wine. Praise you, Lord Jesus, for this tremendous Gift!

"To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His Blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen!" -Revelation 1:5-6