Pope Pius IX formally instituted the Feast of the Most Precious Blood on June 30, 1849, during the First Italian War of Independence. In a message he sent on that day, while in exile, to the superior general of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, Pope Pius IX established the feast to be celebrated “immediately” throughout Christendom on the first Sunday of July, dedicating the entire month to the Most Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ:
“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”
Although, since the revision of the liturgical calendar by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the Church no longer requires the Sunday observance of the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the entire month of July still remains a time for its commemoration. A votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood was established for use by Catholic communities throughout the world with this Opening Prayer:
“O God, who by the Precious Blood of your only Begotten son have redeemed the whole world, preserve in us the work of your mercy, so that, ever honoring the mystery of our salvation, we may merit to obtain its fruits. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
On July 5, 2009, during his remarks at the Angelus, the late Pope Benedict XVI explained that:
“To the cry which rises from so many parts of the earth for the blood that is spilled, God responds with the Blood of his Son, who gave his life for us. Christ did not respond to evil with evil but with goodness, with his infinite love. The Blood of Christ is the pledge of God's faithful love for humanity. Every human being, even in conditions of extreme moral wretchedness can say, fixing his eyes on the wounds of the Crucified One: “God has not abandoned me, he loves me, he has given his life for me,” and thus rediscover hope.”
I encourage you to offer this prayer during the month of July for the Most Precious Blood.
Most Precious Blood of Life Eternal, price of sinful man's redemption, by whose saving streams the thirst of souls is quenched, and their stains are washed away, you who plead the cause of humanity before the throne of infinite mercy, from the depths of my heart I adore you and desire, as much as lies in my power, to make atonement for the injuries and insults that are constantly offered you by our world and especially by those who rashly dare to blaspheme you. Who will not bless and praise this Blood of infinite value? Whose soul would not be inspired with love for Jesus Who shed It all for us? What would be my fate, had I not been redeemed by this Divine Blood? And what drew you from the veins of my Savior even to the last drop? It was love! O boundless love, which has given us this saving balm! O priceless balm, welling from the fount of immeasurable love! Grant that all hearts and tongues may praise you, magnify you, and give you thanks, now and throughout all ages. Amen.
