The Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
First Class
History of the feast of the Most Precious Blood
July 1 is the Solemnity of the "Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ." This feast, celebrated in Spain in the 16th century, was later introduced to Italy by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo and extended to the whole Church by Pope Pius IX in 1849.
For many dioceses there were two days to which the Office of the Precious Blood was assigned, the office being in both cases the same. The reason was this: the office was at first granted to the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood only. Later, as one of the offices of the Fridays of Lent, it was assigned to the Friday after the fourth Sunday in Lent. In many dioceses these offices were adopted also by the Fourth Provincial Council of Baltimore (1840).
When Pope Pius IX went into exile at Gaeta in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1849), he had as his companion Father Giovanni Merlini, third superior general of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood. After they had arrived at Gaeta, Don Merlini suggested that His Holiness make a vow to extend the feast of the Precious Blood to the entire Church, if he would again obtain possession of the Papal dominions. The Pope took the matter under consideration, but a few days later sent his domestic prelate Joseph Stella to Don Merlini with the message: "The pope does not deem it expedient to bind himself by a vow; instead His Holiness is pleased to extend the feast immediately to all Christendom." This took place on June 30, 1849, the day the French army conquered Rome and the Republicans capitulated.
As June 30 had been a Saturday before the first Sunday of July, Pope Pius IX decreed on August 10, 1849, that henceforth every first Sunday of July should be dedicated to the "Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ." This feast was instituted by him in thanksgiving for the victory of the Papal and French army over the revolutionary forces which had driven him from Rome.
Pope Pius XI raised this feast to the rank of Double of the 1st Class to mark the nineteen hundredth anniversary of Jesus' death.
Meaning of the Feast Day
In Catholic belief, the Blood of Christ is precious because it is Christ's own great ransom paid for the redemption of mankind. As there was to be no remission of sin without the shedding of blood, Catholics hold that the "Incarnate Word" not only offered his life for the salvation of the world, but he offered to give up his life by a bloody death, and to hang bloodless, soulless and dead upon the Cross for the salvation of humanity. Jesus is said to have given his life - his blood - for the sake of all humanity, regardless of any religious division or difference in belief, atoning for every form of human sin.
The Feast of the Precious Blood is a call to repentance and reparation.
Prayer
"Almighty and everlasting God, Who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His Blood; grant unto us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate (with solemn worship) the price of our redemption, and by its power be so defended against the evils of this life, that we may enjoy the fruit thereof forevermore in Heaven. Through the same Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen
A suggestive word was made use of by the evangelist, in not saying: "He pierced his side," or, "He wounded," or anything like that, but: "He opened"; that therein might, as it were, be thrown open the door of life, from which have flowed forth the sacraments of the Church, without which there is no entrance to life which is the true life. That blood was shed for the remission of sins; that water it is that makes up the health-giving cup, and supplies at once the laver of baptism and water for drinking.
This was announced beforehand, when Noah was commanded to make a door in the side of the ark, through which the animals, not destined to perish in the flood, might enter, and by which the Church was prefigured. Because of this, the first woman was formed from the side of the man while he slept, and she was called Life and Mother of all living. Truly it pointed to a great good, before the great evil of the transgression.
This second Adam bowed his head and fell asleep on the cross, in order that from there a spouse might be formed for him, even from that which flowed from the sleeper's side. O death, by which the dead are raised anew to life! What can be purer than such blood? What more health-giving than such a wound?
St. Augustine "Treatrise 120 on John" - § 2
“Precious Blood, Ocean of Divine Mercy, flow upon us!
Precious Blood,
Most Pure offering, procure us every grace!
Precious Blood,
Hope and refuge of sinners, atone for us!
Precious Blood,
Delight of the Holy Souls, draw us!
Amen.”
— Saint Catherine of Siena
