July: The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Christ

"Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, by Thy Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation and hast made us a kingdom for our God” ~ Revelation 5:9

Traditionally, each month of the year is dedicated to a different devotion, i.e. October is the month of the Rosary, etc. The month of July is thus devoted to honoring the Most Precious Blood of Christ. By the shedding of His Blood, an efficacious offering was made to God the Father on our behalf. On the cross, Christ's heart was opened and with it the gates of heaven closed by sin were opened. As the blood of the Passover lamb saved the firstborn of the Israelites from physical death, so the Blood of Christ delivers the soul from eternal death.

Devotion to the Precious Blood has been part of the life of the Church from the very beginning. Saints Peter, Paul, and John reference the incomparable price of our salvation, the Blood of Christ. St. Clement of Rome exhorts the Corinthians to honor Christ's Blood saying, "Let us fix our gaze upon the Blood of Christ and understand how precious it is to the Father, because poured out for our salvation, it brought to the whole world the grace of conversion."

Again St. Clement cries, "In love the Master took us to Himself. Because of the love which He felt for us, Jesus Christ Our Lord gave His Blood for us by the will of God, His body for our bodies, and His soul for our souls." Christ freely chose to shed His lifeblood to redeem mankind and in doing so revealed the great and incomparable love of His Heart for souls. Each of us, in striving to faithfully imitate Christ, strive to love as He loved by daily choosing to do each act for love of Him. It is not by the success or failure of each task that Christ will judge us on the Last Day, but by whether or not each was done for love of Him. We strive, by the help of Our Mother, to do all for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

If a devotional has been preserved from antiquity, it is because of the truth, beauty, and goodness that it contains and reveals. Today, many devotions rich in beauty and grace have been neglected simply because we do not know how to mine from them the riches they contain. During the month of July, do not lose this opportunity to grow in grace - sit in prayer with the mystery of Christ's shedding of His Precious Blood for your salvation. Develop the habit of making frequent aspirations related to the devotion, such as, "Blood of Christ, save us." Pray the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Christ or pray with a line from that litany. Reflect on the priceless gift of your redemption. "What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me?" ~ Psalm 116:9




Sangius Christi, Salva Me



The Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Christ
(For private recitation)

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father in Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and  refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, river of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, Solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of Eternal Life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from Purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy blood,
R. And made of us a kingdom for our God.

Let Us Pray: Almighty and Eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood, Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily adore this Price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in Heaven. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.