Blessed John XXIII once stated: "The world can still set itself right and always will be able to, because the voice and Blood of Christ cry out for pity and mercy... Devotion to the Precious Blood is the devotion of our time...It is devotion for all souls, for the whole world". These past few days, we have focused on the blood of the martyrs, that of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of the First Martyrs of Rome. However, this day, and throughout the month of July, we commemorate the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Blood shed for our offenses, the Blood of the Lamb which the martyrs have washed their garments into to be pure white. It is that same Blood shed everyday, on the Catholic altars throughout the world as Christ offers Himself continually for the human race which constantly needs to be refreshed by that unending Font of Mercy.
This feast was celebrated as early as the 16th century in Spain. Devotion to the Precious Blood was introduced in Italy by St. Gaspar de Bufalo and was extended to the entire Holy Roman Church in 1849 by Blessed Pius IX. In 1933, Pope Pius XI made this feast a double of the 1st class to commemorate the 1,900th anniversary of the Death of Christ.
Unfortunately, the Feast of the Most Precious Blood was abbrogated in 1970 as a result of the institution of the new Roman Calendar, and was combined with the Feast of Corpus Christi. To think, the reason for this feast and devotion was to commemorate the greatest act of love that the world has ever known. And in the blink of an eye, it was gone.
Fortunately, with the recent resurgence of Tradition (especially among younger Catholics), devotion to the Precious Blood has remained alive and well. What further evidence do we need of Christ truly present and alive, both physically and mystically, in our Catholic Church, in our unbelieving society, in our contrite hearts? The continual Sacrifice of Christ continues, as His Nature has taken on suffering. Not only does it continue through the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but also in the mockery of Our Lord in this godless society.
Please continue to pray and make reparation to the Most Precious Blood for the offenses committed against Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
“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.” - St. Catherine of Siena
Over the past year, we as devout Catholics have honored and shown our deepest respect for our priests during the Year of the Priest. Unfortunately, for the world that will forever hate our priests and holy religion for being counter-cultural, there have been countless attacks against our priests, slander, and especially, the cracks of the whips laid on our Holy Father as he carries his cross.
Day to day, we hear the horrifying stories of the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament, cowardly thugs desecrating our churches, and our Lord, our Lady, the Saints, and all we hold dearly being spoken of blasphemously. For these we beg God's forgiveness and now make amends, for we now know who really caused the most pain to our Lord in His passion: ALL OF US.
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ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for me is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Your altar (in Your presence) eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Your loving Heart is everywhere subject.
Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying for from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow You, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Your Law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against You; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against You and Your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Your Vicar on earth and Your priest are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Your Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which You have founded. Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Your divine honor, the satisfaction You once made to Your eternal Father on the cross and which You continue to renews daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Your Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Your grace, for all neglect of Your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent other from offending You and to bring as many as possible to follow You.
O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowing gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to You, so that we may one day come to that happy home, where You with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, world without end. Amen.
CONSECRATION OF THE HUMAN RACE TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Your altar. We are Yours, and Yours we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known You; many too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Your Sacred Heart.
You are King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
You are King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
You are King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism; refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Your eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Your chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.
Grant, O Lord, to Your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and Honor forever. Amen.
