July first is the feast of the precious blood, and July is the month of the precious blood. (Like May is Mary's month.)
Today we should all give thanks to Jesus,for suffering on the cross and dying to redeem us by shedding his precious blood. St.Peter says that the blood of Christ, with which we have been redeemed is of more value, even than gold, silver of jewels. (I Peter 1:18-19) It used to be common to say at the elevation of the chalice "You have redeemed us O Lord, not with perishable things, but with your own precious blood."
St. Augustine says in the reading at today divine office, of the efficacy of Christ's blood in redeeming us:
"Look what he paid, and you shall see what he bought. Christ's Blood was the price. What is his Blood worth? What, but the whole world? What but all men? They are very unthankful for his redemption, or very proud, who say that it is only precious enough to buy the Africans, or that they themselves are so precious that it was shed only for them. Let there be an end to such conceit, and end to such vainglory. What he paid, he paid for all."
In the Te Deum, a hymn we sing in the liturgy of the hours on solemn feast days, we sing " Save your servants, o Lord, whom you have redeemed with your own precious blood."Today, and this month, we should thank him for giving us his blood to drink in the Eucharist. ( John 6:56, Matthew 26:27) We should also make sure that we are prepared to got to communion, and we should offer penances,like giving up something we like for the day, or doing something we don't like, in reparation for those who don't heed Paul's warning not to come to communion if we are in mortal sin, lest we profane the Lord's body and blood, and eat and drink damnation on ourselves. ( I Corinthians 11:27, 11:29)
Here is a prayer of reparation for the precious blood:
Offering in Reparation to the Precious Blood
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for the spread and exaltation of my dear Mother, Thy holy Church, for the preservation and welfare of her visible Head, the sovereign Roman Pontiff, for the cardinals, bishops, and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for peace and concord among Catholic kings and princes, for the humbling of the enemies of our holy faith, and for the welfare of all Thy Christian people.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for the conversion of unbelievers, the rooting-up of all heresies, and the conversion of sinners.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all my relations, friends and enemies, for those in need, in sickness, and in tribulation, and for all those for whom Thou knowest that I am bound to pray, and willest that I should pray for.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all those who are to pass this day to the other life, that Thou wouldst deliver them from the pains of hell, and admit them with all speed to the possession of Thy glory.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all men who are lovers of this great treasure and who are united with me in adoring and glorifying It and who labor to spread this devotion.
- Glory be to the Father, etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son, my Savior and my God, for all my needs, both temporal and spiritual, as in intercession for the holy souls in purgatory, and in an especial manner for those who were most devoted to this price of our redemption, and to the sorrows and sufferings of our dear Mother, Mary most holy.
- Glory be to the father,etc.
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with his Blood!
Glory to the Blood of Jesus both now and for evermore and through the everlasting ages. Amen.
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