Chapter X: Part 10

The devotion to the precious blood is especially opportune for our days—these days of infidelity and of atheism. It shows that the redemption is due to the efficacy of the precious blood. It throws out into strong light the most intimate relation of the incarnation; it meets the false spirituality which we conceive of the sacred humanity of Christ. It is a revelation of the character of God, as well as of the work of Jesus; it brings into our heart the love of the kingdom of God, and thus we begin again to have faith, the right faith as it is given us by the Church. We are aroused to the love of Jesus, and feel sensibly that He is still in the Church, and that His sacred blood is even now performing wonders. O my soul, what unthought‐of greatness is in the precious blood of Jesus! how charming is the devotion, and how many souls labor under its benign influence! Let me, O my sweet Jesus, reverence that precious blood, and apply it to my soul for an increase of faith in God and His revelations, in hope for a happy future, and in love for Christ crucified.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐second Day.

The devotion of the precious blood very materially supports the devotion to the Passion of Our Lord. It furnishes a point of view from which we may regard each separate suffering, each separate wound, and mould it into one universal consideration. It is thus a unity of the devotion to the Passion, as well as a variety of it, besides being in itself an additional devotion. The precious blood brings vividness to the meditation on the Passion. There is no greater devotion than meditation on the Passion; the saints have always made it the help and consolation of their progress. What is consideration of the precious blood but a contemplation of the Passion under another aspect? We bring the entire Passion under the head of one mystery, and still we preserve all the details, so that the Passion and the precious blood are the favorite contemplations of all devout Christians. O dear Jesus crucified, make me love the cross; make me desire to stand beneath the cross, in order to receive on my soul one drop of that precious blood which is being poured out for my redemption.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐third Day.

The closest alliance, however, is between the precious blood and the Sacred Heart. The Heart of Jesus is the centre of our affection; it is the source from which the blood of Christ is drawn, the wealth of the Sacred Heart. It is the blood that warms that Heart and makes it beat for our sakes, so that every pulsation is an act of love for the human race. The Heart of Jesus teaches us to hate sin; the precious blood so copiously shed for our redemption inculcates the hatred of sin. We hate sin purely, manfully, and strongly; we do penance, we mortify ourselves, we mourn over our sins and the sins of others. All this is taught by the sacred blood of Our Lord; it is surely a valuable lesson which we ought to learn, since the instruction is given in so forcible a manner, and is so frequently inculcated.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐fourth Day.

There is a virtue which, in the language of the theologians of the Church, is called the angelic virtue: a virtue most pleasing to God. It is chastity. The precious blood makes us chaste according to our state of life; it makes those pure and virginal who practise this devotion and gives them the grace to preserve purity and to persevere in it. This virtue renders us very pleasing to almighty God, Who loves pure souls. “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God,” and chastity is an expression of the purity of the soul. The devil makes the greatest efforts to deprive us of this great treasure. The greatest and most frequent temptation which we have to endure is certainly that against purity. Our body seems to be full of impurity, our imaginations crowded with thoughts of a defiling character. The virtue of purity endears us to Mary, the purest of virgins; she loves those whom God regards with special favor, and to whom He has promised the particular privilege of contemplating Him for all eternity.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐fifth Day.

How beautiful a virtue is true humility! We love and admire it in others, but we ourselves are far from possessing it. Humility is the foundation on which all other virtues are built. Pride is a most hateful vice in the sight of God, for He would rather receive a humble sinner than a saint inclined to pride. God resists the proud, and gives His grace to the humble. The devotion of the precious blood will secure humility. Jesus shed His blood amid the greatest humiliations. In the Garden of Olives, bowed to the earth, He poured forth His blood in an agony of shame and horror over the sins of men; He was beaten like a slave in the court of Pilate; the blood poured from His face, wounded by blows and defiled by spittle, and from His head crowned with thorns. It stained the streets of Jerusalem on His way to Calvary; it flowed to the foot of the cross, as He hung and died between two malefactors, where He was considered the most abject of men. Let us learn the lesson of humility from the death of Christ.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐sixth Day.

Zeal for souls, zeal for the glory of God, was the motive that induced the Son of God to come down from heaven to suffer and die on the cross. Might not we, also, do something for the glory of God and the good of souls, if we had a little zeal towards that end? The apostles learned zeal from the Passion of Our Lord. When the Lord had died on the cross, they became inflamed with zeal and worked in an apostolic manner that souls might be brought to the kingdom of God; suffering became precious in their sight, because they endured it for the good of humanity. We that profess the love of the precious blood must also have zeal for the salvation of souls. What can we do? We can pray; we can offer up our petitions incessantly for some particular individual until we are heard; we can surround people by such influences that their minds will be changed and brought back to God. But frequently we are inactive and inattentive to these means which God has given us; we are not filled with zeal for furthering the devotion to Christ’s precious blood, and for the salvation of souls.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐seventh Day.

As we may do much good by a prudent zeal for the living, we can still more benefit the souls in purgatory by the application of the merits of the precious blood. Those souls are already in the hands of God, undergoing a purification to fit them to enter heaven. They can do nothing for themselves; they must patiently endure the just punishment that is meted out to them. But the Church teaches us that we can help them, and we are encouraged to use the means which God has placed in our hands. Those who are in purgatory will surely go to heaven, but we can shorten their purification by prayer. Our supplications for the souls in purgatory may be even more productive of good than praying for the living, for these may resist the goodness of God and render themselves unworthy of further graces, while the souls in purgatory, being the friends of God, will readily receive the benefit of our prayers. Purgatory is an effect of sin, and sin and its effects are effaced by the blood of Christ. The Apostle has said that Jesus loved us, and has given His blood to wash us.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐eighth Day.

The sacred wounds of Our Lord are those abundant springs from which flow the kindness and charity of God. Many saints have had revelations and visions of this in their ecstatic prayers. St. Gertrude saw streams of blood issuing from the wounds of Our Lord and flowing like rivers through the Church, rendering her fruitful in many heroic virtues. How can we have any merit unless we receive it from Our Lord? for without Him we can do nothing. To do something meritorious, then, we should have recourse to Our Lord in prayer. Our prayers would fall to the ground and be without result, unless helped by the pleading of the precious blood; our works of mortification would be useless, our penance vain attempts for forgiveness, unless the precious blood made them efficacious. As the sun gives light to the world, enlightening and fructifying it, so the precious blood shines on our actions and makes them glow with a supernatural merit. There are some virtues which we may practise to a certain degree, but how imperfect are the best intentions, without God’s love as a motive.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Twenty‐ninth Day.

Remember that perseverance is the great grace which we are all striving for. It is not a grace that we can merit at any one time, for it is only a continuation of fidelity. It is a very important grace; what does it profit to have gained all possible graces, and to be filled with consolation, when in the end we shall not be counted among the elect of God? He is, of course, interested in your eternal salvation—in other words, your final perseverance. But we are living in a state of probation here; it is not possible, except in some special case of extraordinary grace, that we could be possibly in any other state than doubt as regards the future. It is natural for those who are on trial to fear that they will not succeed; there are so many a great deal better than we are that when we compare their excellence with our weak efforts to do right, we feel so inferior that we are afraid of being rejected. Hence it is that we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, lest we may not reach the end for which we have been created.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Thirtieth Day.

Final perseverance can be obtained only through our humble faithfulness to God and continued prayers. When we pray to the Lord, and beg of Him by His precious blood to give us the grace of perseverance, or when we go to God the Father, and offer Him the sacred blood of Jesus as a sacrifice, that He may give us extraordinary grace to enable us to continue in His service, He is not obliged to give it, but He will, just as a friend who wishes to keep you attached to him gives you many presents and favors. We must also turn to Mary in this doubtful struggle for eternal happiness. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, has much to do with our salvation; we should not despise her help. She supplied, as you may say, the precious blood to Our Lord, by feeding Him with the milk of her breast. Or, as St. Bernard tells us, mixing the milk of the Mother with the blood of the Son, in order to prepare for us a most delicious drink. Mary ceases not to work in heaven for the salvation of souls and for the conversion of poor sinners.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Thirty‐first Day.

St. Alphonsus, in speaking of the precious blood, says: “So, then, my Jesus, in order to save my soul, Thou hast prepared a bath of Thine own blood wherein to cleanse it from the filth of its sins. If. then, our souls have been bought by Thy blood, ‘For you are bought with a great price’ (1 Cor. vi. 20), it is a sign that Thou lovest them much; and as Thou dost love them, let us pray thus to Thee: ‘We therefore pray Thee to help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.’ It is true that by my sins I have separated myself from Thee, and have knowingly lost Thee. But remember, my Jesus, that Thou hast bought me with Thy blood. Ah, may this blood not have been given in vain for me, which was shed with so much grief and so much love.” We ought to read these words over and over again, until they penetrate our souls with that devotion to the precious blood which this great saint possessed, filling all our daily lives with a heavenly sweetness.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Mass in Honor of the Precious Blood.

Introit.

When the priest goes up to the altar to say Mass, think that the
Lord is about to celebrate the Last Supper, during which He
instituted the Holy Eucharist, and gave His flesh as food, and His
blood as drink, to all the disciples present.

With a confident heart I am about to hear this holy Mass, to offer this holy sacrifice with the priest. I offer it to the Blessed Trinity, as the greatest means to obtain spiritual benefits for myself and those for whom I intend to pray, that we all may receive what is most needful for our body, but especially for our soul. Amen.

Confiteor.

I know, O my God, that I am unworthy to be admitted so closely to the Holy of holies, or to be here during the celebration of the sacred mysteries: I am unworthy on account of my many sins. O my God, I beg pardon for them, and I am sure that I will receive forgiveness. I resolve to live a good life so that, purified, I may look up to the sacred mountain, where resides the God Who renews my youth. Yes, I have sinned against Thee, and against heaven. I am not worthy to be called Thy child. Amen.

Kyrie.

When the priest goes up to the altar and kisses it, remember the
infamous kiss of Judas, think of your own infidelities, and cry
out nine times with the priest: Lord, have mercy on us, Christ,
have mercy on us. With your whole heart and soul join the choirs
of angels in singing a hymn of praise to the Almighty, for all the
mercies He has shown us by the sufferings and death of His divine
Son. Offer up these sufferings for the benefit of the Church, for
peace and harmony among nations, that the world may by the death
of Christ enjoy a peace that will conduce to the acknowledgment of
God’s dominion over all mankind, that it may enjoy the benefit of
the incarnation and death of the Lord.

Offertory.

I offer to Thee, O my God, with the priest, the bread and wine as did Our Lord, Who wished us to do it in commemoration of Him. I offer to Thee the pains which He endured at the bitter crowning, when the thorns were pressed deep into His sacred head, and the precious blood flowed from the wounds thus made, covering His whole face and disfiguring it so that it no longer resembled a human countenance. I offer to Thee those sighs and secret prayers which He offered, to atone for my wilful distractions in prayer, my waywardness in thought, my unbridled imagination, for my pride and disobedience, for all my errors, and for the errors of heretics and schismatics, that Thou mayest send them the grace of conversion. Amen.

Gospel.

Remember, O God, the sufferings of the Lord when He was dragged before Caiphas and Pontius Pilate. I offer myself to the guidance of Thy providence; do with me what Thou wilt for Thy glory. May Thy holy Gospel be always a consolation to me in all my troubles, and a guide to my conduct, so that, leading a good Christian life during the remainder of my stay in this world, I may direct my steps to heaven. Amen.

Credo.

I believe in the teachings of the Church; with a full acceptance I have accepted Christianity, let me remain faithful to it under all circumstances. Come to the assistance of my unbelief, that I may firmly profess my faith openly before the world. I believe, especially, in the efficacy of the Passion and the glory of the cross, a humiliation to the people of the world, but a source of comfort and salvation to me. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who taught me the articles of the creed. I believe in the Church which He has established. I believe in the forgiveness of my sins through the merits of the Passion and blood of the Lord. Amen.

Lavabo.

Remember, O God, for my sake, the washing of the hands of Pilate, as a sign of the innocence of the Lamb of God and His freedom from sin. Pilate washed his hands as a sign that he was not guilty of the murder of Christ, but I must acknowledge that I have condemned Jesus to death by my sinfulness. My declaration of justice will not suffice, but do Thou declare me pardoned. O my God, let me hear the words, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” Amen.

Orate Fratres.

I call to mind the scene when Pilate presented Jesus to the Jewish rabble, all covered with blood, with a crown of thorns on His head, His sacred body torn with the lashes of the scourging, and enveloped in a purple mantle. Pilate says, “Behold the man!” But the Jews cry out, and oh, how their cruel words sound in my ears, “Crucify Him, crucify Him”! Look upon our Jesus, O God, as He stands there, claiming the kindness of some good heart, and through His precious blood have mercy on us. Amen.

Canon.

I will now, O my God, with the angels, bow low before Thee, and cry Holy, holy, holy, God of hosts! The angels continually cry thus to Thee in heaven. I ought to be engaged here on earth in the same occupation. But let me continue to meditate on the sacred Passion of Thy Son and how He carried His cross. I offer Thee the way of the cross which He made, and all the suffering which He endured during it. He fell three times to the ground, crushed by its weight; stains of blood from His recent scourging marked His path. I see the Cyrenean unwilling to carry the cross for Jesus. Veronica wipes His face, and the women of Jerusalem weep over the cruelty that the Lord had to endure. I offer to Thee the bitter meeting of Mary and her beloved Son. May I be encouraged, through Christ’s Passion, to take the cross on my own shoulders, and carry it with joy. I offer Thee the painful carrying of the cross for all poor Christians who have heavy crosses to bear, and who are bearing them patiently; for the sick, the dying, the poor orphan child, the patient mother who labors, with resignation to Thy holy will, for those dependent on her, and for all who have to suffer on this earth. Let me understand, O my Jesus, the valuable lesson that I deserve to suffer on account of my many sins. Amen.

Elevation Of The Host And Chalice.

I believe, my Jesus, that Thou art now present on this altar; that this bread is now Thy body, and this wine is now Thy blood. Now, O my God, Thy beloved Son has arrived at Calvary. His garments are torn off, and He is nailed to the cross. He is raised, and suspended between heaven and earth, with hands and arms outstretched. There He hangs for three hours, and makes the sacrifice of Himself to Thee, His heavenly Father, for the salvation of the human race. O heavenly Father, look down on this altar and hear the sighs of Thy pleading Son! This is the same sacrifice as that on Calvary: let this Mass, then, have a great spiritual benefit to all on earth. This precious blood is offered up every day on our altars, to obtain pardon for our sins, and new graces for the future. Amen.

Agnus Dei.

I now contemplate Jesus hanging on the cross, His blood flowing from His wounds. I adore Thee on the cross, I listen to Thy words as Thou dost pray for sinners. This holy sacrifice is for them: Christ is the willing Victim that is expiating the sins of mankind; He thirsts for souls on the cross. Father Creator, why dost Thou not create new creatures, and satisfy the thirst of Thy divine Son? Thou canst force the wicked to a change of heart, as Thou didst St. Paul. “Create a clean heart in me, O my God.” But to bring the sacrifice to completion, after the three hours of agony the voice of Jesus is heard exclaiming, “It is consummated.” All is completed; the sufferings and humiliation of the cross are over. Amen.

Communion.

Would, O my Jesus, that I were in a state to go and unite myself to Thee! At least I will unite myself in a spiritual manner. I should always be so full of love towards Thee as to think ever of Thee, and desire to be closely united to Thee and to have Thee buried in my heart. Let me consider before Thee, O heavenly Father, that the sacrifice of the cross is completed, that Thou hast accepted it, and dost look upon the earth with pity and mercy. Still the cruelty of the Jews is not satisfied. They have one more wound to inflict on the Lord. A soldier with a lance opens the sacred side of Our Lord, to demonstrate to every one that the Victim is really dead. O my God, I offer Thee these last marks of the love of the dead Jesus, the wound in His sacred side, and the drops of blood and water which issue therefrom. O my Jesus, Thy heart is open for my reception. I will take refuge therein, away from the temptations of the world. Give me the grace not to fall into mortal sin, as well as to persevere in my resolution to avoid even small sins to the end of my life. I pray for the poor souls in purgatory, for my parents, relatives, sisters and brothers. I recommend to the goodness of Thy Sacred Heart all my benefactors, all those who need my prayers, all the poor, the miserable, and the wretched. I pray also for my country; for peace, prosperity, and love among all the nations that have gathered here to make this their fatherland. I pray also for the conversion of all to the faith, that this may be the kingdom of God here on earth, one sheepfold of Christ, the Good Shepherd. I offer to Thee, O my God, all the sufferings of Jesus for these necessities. Amen.

Conclusion Of The Mass.

In order that this day may be most profitable to me, and to those for whom I have offered this Mass, O heavenly Father, I join myself in spirit in all the Masses that are continually being said all over the world. What great graces are given to mankind by this unceasing succession of oblations of the precious body and blood of Christ! I offer to Thee, also, O my Saviour, all the pious works which are done by so many faithful Christians all over the world. I offer all the confessions, communions, rosaries, and all prayers, as well as all good works of fasting, almsgiving, and penances which are done. I wish to gain all the indulgences which are within my reach to‐day, that I may apply them to the souls in purgatory. Now that the priest is about to bless the people in Thy name, do Thou bless me, as well as those for whom I have prayed. Pour out, by the hands of the priest, the blessing of Thy precious blood with all its merit and innumerable graces, on the souls in purgatory. Purify us from our sins by means of this blessing, and give us strength and courage to do good works. Protect us, Thy children and the heirs of Thy kingdom, and lead us to eternal happiness in company with all the saints in heaven. Amen.

Thanksgiving After Mass.

I thank Thee, O my God, at the end of this Mass, for all the graces which I have received during it. The grace of attention to this holy sacrifice, the grace of faith by which I really saw the dying Jesus offered to God the Father, and His sacred blood applied to the wounds of my soul. I thank Thee for that love which has made me come here, and spend some time in the service of God. May I preserve, to the end of my life, the graces which I have received, so that they may bring me to heaven. The love of God almighty, the grace of His divine Son, and the imparting of the Holy Ghost, be always with me and all the faithful throughout the world. The power of the precious blood, the treasure of the merits of the Blessed Virgin, and the intercession of all the saints accompany me now to my home, to my daily work, and make all that I say and do faithful to eternal life. Amen.

Three Offerings of the Precious Blood.

In thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which the most
holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, was enriched, more especially
those which she received in her immaculate conception.

1. Eternal Father, in union with the most holy and immaculate Virgin, and in her name, and in union with, and in the name of all the blessed in heaven, and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most obedient daughter, particularly in her immaculate conception. I offer Thee also this precious blood for the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor, the Bishop of Rome, and according to his intentions.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

2. Eternal and Incarnate Word, in union with the most holy and immaculate Virgin, and in her name, and in union with, and in the name of all the blessed in heaven, and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee Thine own most precious blood, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most loving Mother, particularly in her immaculate conception. I offer Thee also this precious blood for the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor, the Bishop of Rome, and according to his intentions.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

3. Holy and eternal Spirit, in union with the most holy and immaculate Virgin, and in her name, and in union with, and in the name of all the blessed in heaven, and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Jesus, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most faithful spouse, particularly in her immaculate conception. I offer Thee also this precious blood for the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor, the Bishop of Rome, and according to his intentions.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood of Jesus.

1. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for the propagation and exaltation of my dear Mother the holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of her visible head, the holy Roman Pontiff, for the cardinals, bishops and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.

_V._ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

_R._ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, Who hath saved us with His blood.

2. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for the peace and concord of kings and Catholic princes, for the humiliation of the enemies of the holy faith, and for the happiness of all Christian people.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Blessed and praised, etc.

3. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for the repentance of unbelievers, the extirpation of all heresies and the conversion of sinners.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Blessed and praised, etc.

4. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all those who shall this day pass to another life, that Thou mayest deliver them from the pains of hell and admit them the more readily to the possession of Thy glory.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Blessed and praised, etc.

5. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all my relatives, friends, and enemies, for the poor, the sick, and those in tribulation, and for all those for whom Thou willest I should pray, or knowest that I ought to pray.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Blessed and praised, etc.

6. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all those who are lovers of this treasure of His blood, and for all those who join with me in adoring and honoring it, and for all those who try to spread the devotion to it.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Blessed and praised, etc.

7. Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the most precious blood of Jesus, Thy beloved Son and my divine Redeemer, for all my wants, both spiritual and temporal, for the holy souls in purgatory, and particularly for those, who in their lifetime were most devoted to this price of our redemption, and to the sorrows and pains of our dear Mother, the most holy Mary.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

Blessed and praised, etc.

Blessed and exalted be the blood of Jesus, now and always, and through eternity.

Daily Offering.

O my Lord and my God! I commend myself to Thy adorable Heart, and in Thy sacred wounds I resign myself to Thy holy will this day and forever. Include me, O my Lord and my God, in all the holy Masses that have been or will be offered up this day in the whole world. O Lord, I desire to share in all holy communions, all holy Benedictions, in all indulgences, in all the merits and prayers of devout hearts now and forever. O my Lord and my God! I offer Thee all my steps, all my weariness and labors, all my cares and antipathies, all my crosses, sufferings, ignominies, injuries, persecutions, and adversities; these I offer Thee in honor of Thy holy humanity and of Thy most bitter Passion and death; in the merits of all these I include (_here mention the names of those for whom you wish to pray in particular_), all my relatives, benefactors, friends, enemies, the sick and dying, those who are in temptation or oppressed; all that have commended themselves to my prayers, or for whom I have promised to pray; those to whom I have given scandal, or whom I have in any way enticed to sin; my parents, sisters, and brothers, who have departed this life, and all the souls of the faithful departed. My crucified Saviour, have mercy on the most suffering and abandoned souls in purgatory, also on me, a poor sinner; give me the grace I daily need to serve Thee faithfully until death. I return Thee thanks, thousands and millions of thanks, for all the favors and benefits which Thou hast heaped on me from the first moment of my existence to the present hour. I pray Thee to preserve me always in Thy holy grace, particularly at the hour of my death. Amen.

Plenary Indulgences For Members of the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood.

On the day of registration to those who, having confessed and
communicated, shall pray according to the intention of the Supreme
Pontiff. At the hour of death, after confession and communion; or
if this be impossible, to such as being contrite, shall invoke
with the lips, or if unable, with the heart, the most sweet name
of Jesus. Daily for those, who, with confession and communion,
shall make an hour’s vocal or mental prayer, or partly one and
partly the other, in memory of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the dolors of the most holy Mary, praying as above.

Other Plenary Indulgences.

For which, besides the conditions of confession and communion, a
visit is enjoined to any church whatever; and this visit may, for
any reasonable motive, be commuted by the confessor of the
individual for some other pious work.

On the first Sunday of July, being the feast of the Precious
Blood; Christmas day, the Epiphany, Easter Sunday, the feasts of
the Immaculate Conception, Purification, Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin, and of the most holy Rosary; the feast of the holy
apostles Saints Peter and Paul; and on the commemoration of all
the faithful departed.

On the feast of the Circumcision, on all the Fridays of March, on
the 28th of March, being the feast of the Sacred Blood in Sta.
Maria in Vado at Ferrara, on Holy Thursday, on the day of the
Invention of the Holy Cross, on Ascension day, Pentecost, Corpus
Christi, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the feast of the
most holy Redeemer, the 23d of October.

On the feast of the Annunciation, the Dolors of the most holy
Mary, Good Friday, Our Lady of Carmel (July 16th), the Nativity,
Seven Dolors (third Sunday of September), and the Presentation of
the Blessed Virgin (November 21st).

On the feasts of St. Joseph, St. John Baptist, All Saints, St.
Francis Xavier, and of St. Nicholas of Bari.

Once a month on any day they may choose.

Indulgences for all the Faithful, even Such as are not Members.

For such as shall recite the Chaplet of the Precious Blood once in
the day, seven years and as many quarantines; and if they recite
it daily for a month, a plenary indulgence, having confessed and
communicated, on the last day of the month, or any day in the
following month. (Pius VII., Oct. 18, 1815.)

The same indulgence can be gained by the recital of thirty‐three
Our Fathers, meditating at the same time on the seven times Our
Lord shed His precious blood; or, by such as are uninstructed and
incompetent to meditate, by the simple recital of the thirty‐three
Our Fathers. (Gregory XVI., July 5, 1843.)

For the prayer, “O most precious blood, etc.,” placed at the end
of the Chaplet, three hundred days’ indulgence, once a day.

Chaplet of the Precious Blood.

This chaplet is composed of seven mysteries, in which we meditate
upon the seven times in which Jesus Christ for love of us shed
blood from His most innocent body; at each mystery, except the
last, we are to say five Our Fathers and one Glory be to the
Father, thus making up the number of thirty‐three Our Fathers in
remembrance of the thirty‐three years during which the precious
blood of Jesus flowed in His veins, before it was all poured out
for our salvation. The Chaplet ends with the devout prayer, “O
most precious blood, etc.”

The Chaplet.

_V._ Incline unto my aid, O God.

_R._ O Lord, make haste to help me.

_V._ Glory be to the Father, etc.

_R._ As it was, etc.

First Mystery.

The first time our loving Saviour shed His precious blood for us was on the eighth day after His birth, when He was circumcised in order to accomplish the Law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that Jesus did this to satisfy the justice of God for our dissolute lives, let us excite ourselves to true sorrow for them, and promise, with the help of His all‐ powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul.

Five Our Fathers and one Glory.

We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.

Second Mystery.

Next in the Garden of Olives, Jesus shed His blood for us in such quantity that it bathed the earth around. This took place at the sight of the ingratitude with which men would meet His love. Oh, let us then repent sincerely, because we have hitherto corresponded so illy with the innumerable benefits of Our God, and resolve to make good use of His graces and holy inspirations.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Third Mystery.

Next, in His cruel scourging, Jesus shed His blood, when His flesh was so torn that rivers of blood flowed from His body in every part, all of which He offered, all the time, to His eternal Father in payment of our impatience and our delicacy. How is it, then, we do not curb our anger and our self‐love? Henceforth we will indeed try our very best to bear our troubles well, and, despising ourselves, to take peacefully the injuries which men may do us.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Fourth Mystery.

Again, from the sacred head of Jesus, blood poured down when it was crowned with thorns, in punishment of our pride and evil thoughts. Shall we, then, continue to nurture haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and feed the wayward will in our minds? Henceforth let there ever be before our eyes our utter nothingness, our misery and our weakness; and with generous hearts let us resist all the wicked suggestions of the devil.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Fifth Mystery.

How much of His precious blood did not our loving Lord pour forth from His veins, when laden with the heavy wood of the cross on the mournful way to Calvary, so that the streets and ways of Jerusalem through which He passed were watered with it! This was done in satisfaction for the scandals and the bad examples by which His own creatures had led others astray on the way to ruin. Who can tell how many of us are of this unhappy number? Who knows how many he himself alone has by his own bad example brought down to hell? And have we done anything to remedy this evil? Let us henceforth, at least, endeavor all we can to save souls by word and by example, making ourselves a pattern to all of a good and holy life.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Sixth Mystery.

Still more copiously the Redeemer of mankind shed blood in His barbarous crucifixion; when His veins being rent and arteries burst, there rushed forth in a torrent from His hands and His feet that saving balm of life eternal, to pay for all the crimes and enormities of the universe. Whoever, after this, would continue in sin, and so renew the cruel crucifixion of the Son of God? Let us weep bitterly for our bad deeds, and let us detest them at the feet of the sacred minister of God; let us amend our evil ways, and henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the thought ever in our hearts of all the blood which our eternal salvation cost the Saviour of men.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Seventh Mystery.

Last of all, after His death, when His sacred side was opened, and His loving Heart was wounded, Jesus shed blood, and with the blood there came forth water, to show us how the blood was all poured out to the last drop for our salvation. Oh, the infinite goodness of Our Redeemer! Who will not love Thee, my Saviour? What heart will not consume itself away for love of Thee, Who hast done all this for our redemption? The tongue wants words to praise Thee; let us, then, invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and all saints in paradise, and most of all, our dear Mother Mary, to bless, to praise, and to celebrate Thy most precious blood. Glory to the blood of Jesus! Glory to the blood of Jesus! now and ever throughout all ages. Amen.

At this last mystery three Our Fathers and one Glory be to the
Father, etc., are said to make up the number of thirty‐three.

We beseech, etc.

_Then the following_

Prayer.

O most precious blood of eternal life, the ransom and redemption of the whole universe! the drink and bath of our souls, thou who art ever pleading the cause of men before the throne of God’s sovereign mercy! I adore thee most profoundly, and desire, as far as it is in my power, to compensate thee for the insults and affronts which thou art continually receiving at the hands of men, especially of those who rashly dare to blaspheme thee. And who is there that will not bless this blood of infinite value? Who is there that will not feel himself inflamed with love for Jesus, Who shed it? What should I be if I had not been redeemed by this divine blood? What was it that drew thee forth from the veins of my Lord, even to the last drop? Ah! it was naught else but love. O boundless love, that has given us this balsam of salvation! O balsam beyond price, streaming forth from the well‐spring of a boundless love, grant, oh, grant that every heart and tongue may praise, and magnify, and bless thee, now and forever, even unto the day of eternity. Amen.

_V._ Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy blood.

_R._ And Thou hast made us a kingdom unto Our God.

O almighty and eternal God, Who hast appointed Thy only‐begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His blood, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may venerate upon earth the price of our salvation, and be shielded by its might from the evils of this present life, so that we may enjoy it everlastingly in heaven. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

AUGUST. THE HOLY GHOST.

We may during this month take up the devotion to the Holy Ghost.

This devotion to the Holy Spirit should be the chief of all devotions, because it was the first that was ever celebrated, and that by no less devout worshippers than the holy apostles and the most holy Mary in the upper room at Jerusalem. It is one which is growing in the hearts of the people, because so much depends for our sanctification on the influence of the graces bestowed on us by God the Holy Ghost. Faith teaches us that the Holy Ghost is the love which the Father and the Son bear one to the other; and therefore the gift of love which the Lord infuses into our souls, and which is the greatest of all gifts, is attributed to the Holy Ghost. St. Paul says, “The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Who is given to us.”—Rom. v. 5.

The Holy Ghost, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son is called a fire, because His action in our souls purifies us from sin and fills us with divine love. As the action of fire may be said to be irresistible, it is right that the Holy Ghost be represented by that symbol, since He was to give spirit and wisdom to Christians, which all their adversaries should not be able to resist or gainsay.

If we observe the commandments of God, the Holy Spirit will abide with us to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills, and give us grace to follow Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will give us an increase of devotion towards the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and the sacrifice of the Mass, and will pour the charity of God into our hearts.

Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.

First Day.

Be devout to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. His presence is everywhere, and His power is manifested in all things. His office in the Church is that of lifegiver, and in our souls He is the perfect illumination of the intellect. Without this strength the intellect may be cultivated, but it will be cold and dim. The errors of our mind, its low vices and fragmentary opinions, its distorted judgments, unfounded propositions, and shallow conception of the nature of things, are all defects traceable to our carelessness in the devotion to the Holy Ghost. A pious person devoted to the worship of the Holy Spirit will naturally know God’s will and follow it. The degree of his explicit knowledge will still depend on natural gifts and their due cultivation; but with the docility of the heart and the influence of the Holy Ghost, there will dawn on his mind a knowledge which is often superior to that acquired by the intellect alone. Before and after your actions seek light from this divine Teacher, and in all your daily life continue in the consciousness of your dependence on the Holy Ghost.

Prayer.

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

_V._ Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.

_R._ And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

_Let Us Pray._

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Holy Spirit to relish what is right, and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Second Day.

St. Edward was one day waiting, in a school at Paris, for the arrival of his scholars. He was about to expound to them the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Being tired he fell into a slumber, in which he had a dream. He saw a dove descending towards him; it bore on its back the sacred Host, and laid it on his lips. When he awoke he went to the lecture‐room, and began his discourse; all who heard him were struck by the sweetness and clearness of his explanations. It was the devotion to the Holy Ghost that gave a newness and a charm to all he said, and impressed itself not only on his hearers, but also on himself, so that he became full of the unction and fire of the Spirit of God. We will not be disappointed if we solicit the interest of the Holy Ghost in our behalf. In all our work let us look first to this Light of God, which illumines every soul coming into this world, and our actions will be for the glory of God, our minds will become energetic through the purification of our motives, and our whole life will take on a new exterior of humility and perfection.

Prayer.

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.

Third Day.

The Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity: this is one of the dogmas of the Christian religion; it is the foundation of our holy faith. In God there are three divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Each person, among created intelligences, is a distinct and a separate unity, complete, entire in itself, but by its limitation making only one individual. But in God the three divine persons have one distinct mode of subsistence, for each possesses in common the whole divine essence. The substance of God belongs to each of the three divine persons. Therefore we say that there are three divine persons in God, not three individuals; for an individual would signify a distinct nature. Accordingly, the Athanasian creed declares, “Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.” The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. Yet there are not three Gods, but only one God. In speaking of the nature of God’s being, we find ourselves necessarily beyond the power of reasoning; we only know that the infinite God is one in essence and three in person.

Prayer.

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.

Fourth Day.

The Holy Ghost is God, one of the three divine persons, as is evident from the Scriptures. The Holy Ghost is joined with the Father and the Son, and therefore He really exists and is called God. All the divine attributes are given Him: omnipresence, omnipotence, and justice. He is therefore God, and proceeds from the Father and the Son; He is the Spirit of God, and also the Spirit of Christ. The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son as the breath of the life of intelligence and love. “Because you are sons, God hath sent the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.”—Gal. iv. 6. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will teach you all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself: but whatsoever things He shall hear He shall speak: ... He shall glorify Me: because He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to you. All things whatsoever the Father hath, are Mine. Therefore I said: that He shall receive of Mine, and show it to you.”—John xvi. 13‐15.

Prayer.

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.

Fifth Day.

We cannot understand the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. We cannot understand the persons of the Blessed Trinity, neither the Father, the Son, nor the Holy Ghost; they are infinite. Still we can think of the Blessed Trinity, and guided by what we know through revelation and theology, try to go still further and discover more of the glory surrounding it. One person of the Holy Trinity is as great as the other; there is really no first nor second in dignity or power. There is, however, a marvellous order in the unity of the Trinity, thus expressed in the creed of St. Athanasius: “The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is from the Father alone, not made nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.” Thus the Holy Trinity exists from all eternity, supremely happy in itself, not needing anything exteriorly to assist in its existence.

Prayer.

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.

Sixth Day.

God begets His Son by knowledge; the Son is the knowledge of the Father, but the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son by way of love. The Father and the Son, by an act of supreme natural love breathe forth the co‐eternal Spirit. The Spirit proceeds from both, the pledge of their mutual affection, and the expression of infinite beatitude. The Father loves the Son with such an infinite love as to breathe forth a divine Spirit through His Son. As St. Bernard says, the Spirit is the sacred kiss of the Father and the Son in their imperturbable peace, their firm coherence, their undivided love, their indivisible unity. The Son proceeds from the Father as the ray from the sun; the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son as the heat from the ray and the sun. The Son as the word, the Holy Ghost as the breath; the Son as the river from the fountain; the Holy Ghost as the lightning from the cloud. These expressions hardly convey what is meant, because the ray is smaller than the sun; while in God the ray is equal, the heat is consubstantial with its source. The word says all, the breath is real, the fire burns always and is never extinguished.

Prayer.

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc.

Seventh Day.