Designating July as the month dedicated to the Precious Blood provides believers with a specific period to deepen our devotion to Jesus’ sacrifice and to reflect on the salvific power of His Blood. It is seen as the ultimate expression of God’s love and mercy, as it was freely given for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of souls.
By Fr. Angelo Casimiro, MIC
July has long been designated the month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus in the Liturgical calendar of the Church — for good reason.
Devotion to the Precious Blood has deep historical roots in the Church, dating back to the early centuries of Christianity. This devotion gained prominence over time, leading to the establishment of the Feast of the Most Precious Blood (formerly on the first Sunday of July) in the liturgical calendar.
Designating July as the month dedicated to the Precious Blood provides believers with a specific period to deepen our devotion to Jesus’ sacrifice and to reflect on the salvific power of His Blood. It offers us an opportunity to participate in special prayers, Liturgies, and devotional practices focused on the Precious Blood.
Redemption
Devotion to the Precious Blood is centered on honoring and meditating upon the Blood that Jesus Christ shed during His Crucifixion for the redemption of humanity. This devotion emphasizes the profound spiritual significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and the salvific power of His Blood. We believe that through the shedding of His Blood, Jesus offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to reconcile humanity with God and to atone for sin.
The Precious Blood of Jesus is seen as the ultimate expression of God’s love and mercy, as it was freely given for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of souls.
This devotion is powerful because it is the ultimate expression of God’s love and mercy toward us. It is a tangible sign of God’s willingness to suffer and die for the sake of our salvation, demonstrating the depth of His love and compassion. Jesus’ Blood represents the victory over sin and death achieved through His resurrection. By shedding His Blood, Jesus conquered the powers of sin and death, offering believers the hope of new life and reconciliation with God.
We believe that the Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Through the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we receive the Precious Blood of Jesus, nourishing us spiritually and uniting us more closely to Christ. We believe that devotion to the Precious Blood has the power to intercede for believers and offer us protection from spiritual harm. We often invoke the Precious Blood for strength, healing, and deliverance from evil.
Divine Mercy connection
Devotion to the Precious Blood can be seen as an essential part of the Divine Mercy Chaplet because it emphasizes the redemptive and atoning power of Jesus’ sacrifice. The Precious Blood of Jesus, shed for the forgiveness of sins, is central to the Divine Mercy message, which highlights God’s mercy and forgiveness offered to humanity through the Passion and death of Jesus Christ.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a prayer that invokes God’s mercy, particularly through the merits of Jesus’ Passion and death. While the Chaplet primarily focuses on Jesus’ wounds and the mercy flowing from His heart, it indirectly acknowledges the significance of His Precious Blood in obtaining mercy for sinners.
How then can we live the devotion to the Precious Blood as part of the Divine Mercy evangelization and devotional practice? We can incorporate prayers that honor the Precious Blood of Jesus into our daily prayer routine. This could include traditional prayers such as the Chaplet of the Precious Blood or spontaneous prayers of thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice and petitions for His mercy to be poured out upon the world.
Meditate and reflect
Take time to meditate on the significance of Jesus’ Precious Blood and its role in the redemption of humanity. Reflect on passages from Scripture that speak about the shedding of Jesus’ Blood, such as Isaiah 53:5 and Hebrews 9:14.
In addition, regular participation in the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation is essential to receive the graces made available through the Precious Blood of Jesus. Approach the Sacraments with a heart open to receiving God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Embrace the call to live out the message of Divine Mercy by showing compassion and forgiveness to others. Extend acts of mercy to those in need, whether through charitable works, acts of kindness, or offering forgiveness to those who have wronged you. Share the message of God’s mercy and the significance of Jesus’ Precious Blood with others.
Lastly, use opportunities for evangelization to proclaim the good news of salvation through Christ’s sacrifice and to invite others to experience the transforming power of God’s mercy in their lives.
O Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, we honor, worship and adore Thee.
Heal the wounds our souls and wash away the sins of the whole world.
O Precious Blood, have mercy. Amen.
{shopmercy-ad}
