July is a month especially dedicated to our devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ.
The 1st of July remains the Feast of the Precious Blood in the traditional Roman calendar. For a long time, from the time of Bl. Pius IX it was the 1st Sunday of July.
This is from VIS:
DEVOTION TO BLOOD OF CHRIST
VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2009 (VIS) – At midday today, before praying the Angelus, Benedict XVI recalled how the first Sunday of July was once dedicated to devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Christ, a tradition confirmed "by Blessed John XXIII who, in his Apostolic Letter ‘Inde a primis’ of 30 June 1960, explained its significance and approved its litanies".
Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope pointed out that "the theme of blood, associated with that of the Pascal Lamb, is of primary importance in Sacred Scripture", and he recalled Christ’s words at the Last Supper: "this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins".
"It is written in Genesis that the blood of Abel killed by his brother Cain calls to God from the earth. Unfortunately, today as yesterday, this cry has not ceased as human blood continues to flow because of violence, injustice and hatred. When will men learn that life is sacred and belongs only to God? When will they understand that we are all brothers? To the cry for spilt blood which rises from so many parts of the earth, God responds with the blood of His Son Who gave His life for us. Christ did not respond to evil with evil, but with good, with His infinite love.
"The Blood of Christ is the pledge of God’s faithful love for humankind. By gazing at the wounds of the crucified Christ each man, even in conditions of abject moral poverty, can say: ‘God has not abandoned me, He loves me, He gave his life for me’, and thus rediscover hope".
After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of the recent train accident in the Italian city of Viareggio which killed twenty-two people and injured many others. "I join the suffering of those who have lost loved ones, of the injured and of poeple who have suffered material loss", he said. "While raising heartfelt prayers to God for everyone involved in this tragedy, I express the hope that such incidents may not be repeated and that safety in the workplace and in daily life may be guaranteed".
The Pope concluded by deploring "this morning’s attack in Cotabato, Philippines, where the explosion of a bomb in front of the cathedral during the celebration of Sunday Mass left a number of dead and many injured, including women and children. As I pray to God for the victims of this ignoble act, I once again raise my voice to condemn the use of violence, which is never a just solution to problems".
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I thought July 1st was the feast of the Precious Blood. It was celebrated that date on EWTN with the Pontifical High Mass. Surely they did not get the date wrong…?
I’m glad, though, that exists at all in at least one form of the Rite.
I too am confused about the date. My ’61 Breviary gives it as fixed on 1 July.
In 1849, Pope Pius IX decreed that every first Sunday of July should be dedicated to the “Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” In 1914, Pope Pius X changed it to July 1.
Did you know that Father Frederick faber was the founder of the precious blood confraternity. Newman just did not like him I often wonder why?
Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus:
V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.
V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.
V/ Jesus, hear us.
R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.
V/ God, the Father of Heaven,
R/ have mercy on us.
V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.
V/ God, the Holy Spirit,
R/ have mercy on us.
V/ Holy Trinity, One God,
R/ have mercy on us.
R/ for ff: save us.
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father,
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament,
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,
Blood of Christ, victor over demons,
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs,
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors,
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins,
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life,
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.
You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.
R/ And made us, for our God, a kingdom.
Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
The words of the Holy Father are masterful, and beauty-filled, a treatis in ten minutes. I’m for moving the observance back to the first Sunday in July.
God Save Pope Benedict XVI; Our Lady of Victories, intercede for him!
As pointed out Fr. Z’s post, it used to be on the First Sunday in July at the time when it was the norm to attach various feasts to Sundays in both the universal and particular calendars. The reform of the calendar under Pius X restricted the permanent assignment of feasts on Sundays to two – Holy Name and Holy Trinity (two more were added by Benedict XV – Kingship OLJC and Holy Family). At this time, the Precious Blood was moved to July 1, although in certain places an “external solemnity” was held on the first Sunday.
Sorry, didn’t see it had been already addressed by Henry Edwards
Henry and R,
Thank you both for the explanation.
John XXIII had a tremendous devotion to the Precious Blood and was especially fond of its feast day – I am sure that he is horrified at the suppression of this feast. I’m happy that now that we have the Extraordinary Form fully restored to the life of the Church, that now we have the option to go to Mass on this day again in honor of the Precious Blood.
Why was the feast of the Precious Blood supressed?
I was surprised too to learn that this feast was supressed after Vatican II. I just found out last night when I was browsing over an old Missal. Another Bugnini intervention?
I too raise my voice against the continuing violence in the Southern Philippines especially in Mindanao. Please pray for peace in that region.
Tomorrow at our Holy Hour we will pray together the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Thank you, Rellis, for posting it here. Also, our weekly bulletins will call attention to July’s dedication to the Precious Blood with appropriate short prayers and quotes from the Saints.