Sunday July 6th. 2008
Month of July – devotion to the Most Precious Blood
The Church has designated certain months in the year to encourage us in our devotions. For example: May is devoted to Our Blessed Lady, June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, July to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, September to the Holy Angels, October to St. Joseph and November to the Holy Souls.
Devotion to the Most Precious Blood was common in Spain in the 16th century, and spread throughout Europe. In 1849, Pope Pius IX made the first Sunday in July a feast day, and consecrated the rest of the month to encourage devotion to the Most Precious Blood.
There are certain parts of Christ’s human nature which are particularly deserving honour because of the singular part
they played in our Redemption, or because of the special symbolism they have. The Sacred Heart symbolises Christ’s infinite love for mankind. The special reason for devotion to the Most Precious Blood is the fact that we were redeemed by Christ’s Precious Blood, which was shed to the very last drop on Calvary as the price paid for our salvation.
Devotion to the precious Blood of Jesus
In the Old Testament, the Covenant between God and man on Mount Sinai was ratified by sprinkling the people with the blood of a heifer. The Victim in the new Covenant, according to God’s Divine plan, was Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son. His blood was far more powerful than all the blood of the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament, and restored man’s friendship with God.
New Testament. At the Last Supper, our Lord gave us his Body and Blood in anticipation of his sacrifice on Calvary the next day. The mass is a continuation of this sacrifice by which we make this offering, through the priesthood, to God our Father. Devotion to the Most Precious Blood will help us have a deeper love of the mass and an appreciation of our Lord’s sacrifice. Christ is truly present, body and soul, in both species of the consecrated bread and wine, and their symbolic separation signifies his passion and death.
Our Lord told us: My flesh is real food; my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him, and I will raise him up on the last day. St Paul reminds us: “For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Whoever eats this Bread and drinks this Cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord”
Throughout the New Testament, are so many references to the sacredness and the power of the blood of Christ.
We now have the privilege of receiving Holy Communion under both species, yet there are many who still turn away from the chalice containing the Most Precious Blood of Christ. The reception of Christ under both specious completes the meaning of the sacrifice.
Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Christ leads us to a greater and more intimate love of Our Lord. May the images on the next page help us understand this more fully There is a beautiful litany composed in honour of the Precious Blood, and also some lovely novena prayers, which I will make available next weekend.
Devotion to the precious Blood of Jesus
In the Old Testament, the Covenant between God and man on Mount Sinai was ratified by sprinkling the people with the blood of a heifer. The Victim in the new Covenant, according to God’s Divine plan, was Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son. His blood was far more powerful than all the blood of the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament, and restored man’s friendship with God.
New Testament. At the Last Supper, our Lord gave us his Body and Blood in anticipation of his sacrifice on Calvary the next day. The mass is a continuation of this sacrifice by which we make this offering, through the priesthood, to God our Father. Devotion to the Most Precious Blood will help us have a deeper love of the mass and an appreciation of our Lord’s sacrifice. Christ is truly present, body and soul, in both species of the consecrated bread and wine, and their symbolic separation signifies his passion and death.
Our Lord told us: My flesh is real food; my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him, and I will raise him up on the last day. St Paul reminds us: “For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Whoever eats this Bread and drinks this Cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord”
Throughout the New Testament, are so many references to the sacredness and the power of the blood of Christ.
We now have the privilege of receiving Holy Communion under both species, yet there are many who still turn away from the chalice containing the Most Precious Blood of Christ. The reception of Christ under both specious completes the meaning of the sacrifice.
Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Christ leads us to a greater and more intimate love of Our Lord. May the images on the next page help us understand this more fully There is a beautiful litany composed in honour of the Precious Blood, and also some lovely novena prayers, which I will make available next weekend.
