Blessed be God/Devotions To The Precious Blood
DEVOTIONS TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
The Blood of Jesus, like His wounds, is deserving of special honor because of its close relation to the sacred Passion. This devotion may be said to have begun with the Apostles, who speak of the Precious Blood, the price of our Redemption, as synonymous with the Passion and death of the Saviour. In exercising this devout practice, it is most appropriate to offer the Blood of Jesus in expiation for sin, for the conversion of sinners, for the wants of the Church, and for the souls in purgatory.
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 in the beginning, 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 fulfil the law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that Jesus did this to satisfy the justice of God for our lax ways, let us rouse ourselves to sorrow for them, and promise, with the help of His all-powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. 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. He did this at the sight of the ingratitude with which men would meet His love. Let us, then, repent sincerely that we have hitherto corresponded so ill with the countless blessings of God, and resolve to make good use of His graces and inspirations. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. We beseech Thee therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Third Mystery
NEXT, in His cruel scourging, Jesus shed His Blood when His flesh was so torn that streams of blood flowed from every part of His body, all of which He offered all the time to His eternal Father in payment of our impatience and our softness. How comes it, then, that we do not curb our anger and love of self? Henceforth we will try our best to bear our troubles well, and, despising self, take peacefully the injuries which men may do us. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. We beseech Thee therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
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 nourish haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and feed the wayward will within us? Henceforth let there be ever before our eyes our utter nothingness, our misery, and our weakness; and with generous hearts let us resist all the temptations of the devil. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. We beseech Thee therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Fifth Mystery
WHAT streams of Precious Blood did not our loving Lord pour forth from His veins when laden with the heavy cross on that most grievous journey to Calvary! The very streets and ways of Jerusalem through which He passed were watered with it. This He did in satisfaction for the scandals and bad example by which His own creatures had led others astray. Who can tell how many of us are of this unhappy number? Who knows how many each one, by his own bad example, has brought down to hell? And what have we done to repair this evil? Henceforth let us, at least by word and example, do all we can to save souls, making ourselves a pattern of goodness and of a holy life to all. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. We beseech Thee therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Sixth Mystery
STILL more Precious Blood did the Redeemer of mankind shed in His barbarous crucifixion, when, His veins and arteries being torn asunder, there rushed forth in a torrent from His hands and feet that saving balm of eternal life, to pay for all the crimes and sins of a lost world. Who, after this, would continue in sin and thus renew the cruel crucifixion of the Son of God? Let us weep bitterly for our bad deeds done, and detest them before the feet of the sacred minister of God; let us amend our evil ways, and henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the remembrance ever in our hearts of all the Blood which our salvation cost the Saviour of men. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. We beseech Thee therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Seventh Mystery
LAST of all, after His death, when His sacred side was opened by the lance, and His loving Heart was wounded, Jesus shed blood, and with it there came forth water, to show us how His blood was poured out to the last drop for our salvation. Oh, the great goodness of our redeeming Lord! Who will not love Thee, Saviour of my soul? 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; so let us invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and all saints in paradise, and most of all our dear mother Mary, to bless, praise, and celebrate Thy most Precious Blood. Glory to the Blood of Jesus! Now and ever throughout all ages. Amen. Our Father (five times), and Glory be to the Father, etc. (once).
V. We beseech Thee therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Prayer
MOST Precious Blood of life eternal! price and ransom of the world! drink and bath of the soul! ever pleading the cause of men before the throne of mercy; I adore Thee most profoundly; I would, if I were able, make Thee some compensation for the outrages and wrongs Thou dost ever suffer from men, and especially from those who dare in their rashness to blaspheme Thee. Who will not bless this Blood of value infinite? Who does not feel himself on fire with the love of Jesus, Who shed it all for us? What should I be but for this Blood which hath redeemed me?
And what drew Thee, Precious Blood, from the veins of my Lord, even to the last drop? It was love. O boundless love, which gave to us this saving balsam! O balsam beyond all price, streaming forth from the fount of immeasurable love! Give to all hearts, all tongues, power to praise, celebrate, and thank Thee, now and ever, and throughout all eternity. Amen.
V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy Blood.
R. And hast made us a kingdom to our God.
Let us Pray
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, Who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His Blood; grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate this Blood, the price of our salvation, and so to be defended on earth by its power from the evils of this present life, that in heaven we may be made glad by its everlasting fruit. Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen.
(Ind. of 7 years and 7 quarantines, once a day. — Pius VII. Oct. 18, 1815.)