Beloved in Christ,
“The blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13). In the pious and liturgical tradition of the Church, July is the month devoted to honoring the Precious Blood of the unblemished Lamb of God-the price of our redemption. I want to highlight this fundamental Catholic devotion this Sunday in July to ignite or renew its broad practice in our time. Promoting this devotion is in sync with the distribution of the Precious Blood at mass this Sunday and the celebration of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, which comes to a close this Sunday. The National Eucharistic Congress is designed to bring about revival and facilitate the life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Our emphasis on the Precious Blood this Sunday is also meant to bring to mind our recently concluded parish Vacation Bible School's theme, the Mystery of the Mass.
In recognition of the most august sacrament highlighted by the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Congress, an occasion focused on Eucharistic revival, I want to invite and encourage you to commit to the devotion most intimately linked to the Holy Eucharist, the devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ. There are many things to be said about the precious blood of Christ, which is the source of our salvation and protection against evil. The only thing I will, however, do on this occasion is to direct you to a papal encyclical by Pope John XIII on the promotion of devotion to the Precious Blood ( I will share excerpts with you shortly) and encourage you to pray frequently the Litany of the Precious Blood approved by the Vatican for private and public recitation. Here’s an excerpt from the papal document on the promotion of devotion to the Mos Precious Blood of Jesus:
“As we now approach the feast and month devoted to honoring Christ’s Blood —- the price of our redemption, the pledge of salvation and life eternal — may Christians meditate on it more fervently, may they savor its fruits more frequently in sacramental communion. Let their meditations on the boundless power of the Blood be bathed in the light of sound biblical teaching and the doctrine of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. How truly precious is this Blood is voiced in the song which the Church sings with the Angelic Doctor (sentiments wisely seconded by our predecessor Clement VI [10] ) :
Blood that but one drop of has the world to win
All the world forgiveness of its world of sin…
The Blood of the new and eternal covenant especially deserves this worship of latria when it is elevated during the sacrifice of the Mass. But such worship achieves its normal fulfilment in sacramental communion with the same Blood, indissolubly united with Christ’s eucharistic Body. In intimate association with the celebrant the faithful can then truly make his sentiments at communion their own: “I will take the chalice of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. . . The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul for everlasting life. Amen.” Thus as often as they come worthily to this holy table they will receive more abundant fruits of the redemption and resurrection and eternal life won for all men by the Blood Christ shed “through the Holy Spirit.”[13] Nourished by his Body and Blood, sharing the divine strength that has sustained count less martyrs, they will stand up to the slings and arrows of each day’s fortunes — even if need be to martyrdom itself ffor the sake of Christian virtue and the kingdom of God. Theirs will be the experience of that burning love which made St. John Chrysostom cry out:
Let us, then, come back from that table like lions breathing out fire, thus becoming terrifying to the Devil, and remaining mindful of our Head and of the love he has shown for us. . . This Blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. . . This Blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. . . This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church… This thought will check in us unruly passions. How long, in truth, shall we be attached to present things? How long shall we remain asleep? How long shall we not take thought for our own salvation? Let us remember what privileges God has bestowed on us, let us give thanks, let us glorify him, not only by faith, but also by our very works.”
Thank you for your devotion and participation. Have a blessed week.
In the Most Precious Blood,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
“The blood of Christ” (Eph 2:13). In the pious and liturgical tradition of the Church, July is the month devoted to honoring the Precious Blood of the unblemished Lamb of God-the price of our redemption. I want to highlight this fundamental Catholic devotion this Sunday in July to ignite or renew its broad practice in our time. Promoting this devotion is in sync with the distribution of the Precious Blood at mass this Sunday and the celebration of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, which comes to a close this Sunday. The National Eucharistic Congress is designed to bring about revival and facilitate the life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. Our emphasis on the Precious Blood this Sunday is also meant to bring to mind our recently concluded parish Vacation Bible School's theme, the Mystery of the Mass.
In recognition of the most august sacrament highlighted by the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Congress, an occasion focused on Eucharistic revival, I want to invite and encourage you to commit to the devotion most intimately linked to the Holy Eucharist, the devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ. There are many things to be said about the precious blood of Christ, which is the source of our salvation and protection against evil. The only thing I will, however, do on this occasion is to direct you to a papal encyclical by Pope John XIII on the promotion of devotion to the Precious Blood ( I will share excerpts with you shortly) and encourage you to pray frequently the Litany of the Precious Blood approved by the Vatican for private and public recitation. Here’s an excerpt from the papal document on the promotion of devotion to the Mos Precious Blood of Jesus:
“As we now approach the feast and month devoted to honoring Christ’s Blood —- the price of our redemption, the pledge of salvation and life eternal — may Christians meditate on it more fervently, may they savor its fruits more frequently in sacramental communion. Let their meditations on the boundless power of the Blood be bathed in the light of sound biblical teaching and the doctrine of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. How truly precious is this Blood is voiced in the song which the Church sings with the Angelic Doctor (sentiments wisely seconded by our predecessor Clement VI [10] ) :
Blood that but one drop of has the world to win
All the world forgiveness of its world of sin…
The Blood of the new and eternal covenant especially deserves this worship of latria when it is elevated during the sacrifice of the Mass. But such worship achieves its normal fulfilment in sacramental communion with the same Blood, indissolubly united with Christ’s eucharistic Body. In intimate association with the celebrant the faithful can then truly make his sentiments at communion their own: “I will take the chalice of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. . . The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul for everlasting life. Amen.” Thus as often as they come worthily to this holy table they will receive more abundant fruits of the redemption and resurrection and eternal life won for all men by the Blood Christ shed “through the Holy Spirit.”[13] Nourished by his Body and Blood, sharing the divine strength that has sustained count less martyrs, they will stand up to the slings and arrows of each day’s fortunes — even if need be to martyrdom itself ffor the sake of Christian virtue and the kingdom of God. Theirs will be the experience of that burning love which made St. John Chrysostom cry out:
Let us, then, come back from that table like lions breathing out fire, thus becoming terrifying to the Devil, and remaining mindful of our Head and of the love he has shown for us. . . This Blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. . . This Blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. . . This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church… This thought will check in us unruly passions. How long, in truth, shall we be attached to present things? How long shall we remain asleep? How long shall we not take thought for our own salvation? Let us remember what privileges God has bestowed on us, let us give thanks, let us glorify him, not only by faith, but also by our very works.”
Thank you for your devotion and participation. Have a blessed week.
In the Most Precious Blood,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
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