By Fr. Alex Kramer
A few years ago, I attended the ordination of a priest in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, where the celebration of the Precious Blood of Jesus on 2 July has been maintained. I was curious as to what this devotion was, since it has fallen out of both the liturgical calendar and popular piety of the American church. As I dug into it, I realized that, much like the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. This devotion calls to mind the words of St. John in his first letter, “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
This devotion is not merely meant to call us to remember what Christ did for us, but also to help us to recognize how we can participate and receive this great gift. At the heart of this devotion is the Eucharist. That great sacrament where Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity are present.
A few ways you can dive into this devotion are by praying one of the following devotional prayers, whether that be the Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood, the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, the Offering in Reparation to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, the Offering of the Precious Blood for Souls, or the Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood (all are easily found online).
Before July is out, be sure to spend at least a few minutes contemplating the gift and mystery of the Precious Blood of Christ.