The pious practice of Catholics since the 16th century has been to assign a particular devotion to each month of the calendar year. The month of July is traditionally dedicated to honoring the Precious Blood of Jesus. The very preciousness of such blood is articulated beautifully by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, who writes: “But when Christ came as high priest...he did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!...Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 9:11-14, 10:19-22).
How can you grow in your devotion to the Precious Blood in the coming weeks? Here are three ideas:
Study the life of Blessed Fr. Gaspar de Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, and ask his intercession for your prayer intentions.
Spend more time in Eucharistic Adoration. As Catholics, we know that the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus are found united even under the appearance of bread alone (this doctrine is called concomitance - see CCC 1390).
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet each day at 3:00 PM, but especially on Fridays, the day on which Our Lord freely spilled His own Precious Blood as the price of our salvation.