Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus. "Devotion to the Most Precious Blood, which owes its marvellous diffusion to the 19th-century Roman priest, St Gaspar del Bufalo, has rightly merited the approval …More
Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus.
"Devotion to the Most Precious Blood, which owes its marvellous diffusion to the 19th-century Roman priest, St Gaspar del Bufalo, has rightly merited the approval and backing of this Apostolic See. We may recall that by order of Benedict XIV the Mass and Office in honour of the divine Saviour's adorable Blood were composed. And to fulfill a vow made at Gaeta Pius IX extended the feast to the whole Church. Finally, as a commemoration of the nineteenth centenary of our redemption, Pius XI of happy memory raised this feast to the rank of first-class double, so that the greater liturgical splendour would highlight the devotion and bring to men more abundant fruits of the redeeming Blood. . . As we now approach the feast and month devoted to honouring Christ's Blood –the price of our redemption, the pledge of salvation and life eternal – may Christians meditate on it more fervently, may they savour its fruits more frequently in sacramental communion. Let their meditations on the boundless power of the Blood be bathed in the light of sound biblical teaching and the doctrine of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. How truly precious this Blood is, is voiced in the song which the Church sings with the Angelic Doctor (in sentiments wisely seconded by our predecessor Clement VI): 'Blood that but one drop of has the world to win/ All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.'" – Pope St John XXIII. This marble sculpture of angels catching the Precious Blood of Christ in chalices is from the Lackawanna Basilica of Our Lady of Victory near Buffalo, NY.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr
"Devotion to the Most Precious Blood, which owes its marvellous diffusion to the 19th-century Roman priest, St Gaspar del Bufalo, has rightly merited the approval and backing of this Apostolic See. We may recall that by order of Benedict XIV the Mass and Office in honour of the divine Saviour's adorable Blood were composed. And to fulfill a vow made at Gaeta Pius IX extended the feast to the whole Church. Finally, as a commemoration of the nineteenth centenary of our redemption, Pius XI of happy memory raised this feast to the rank of first-class double, so that the greater liturgical splendour would highlight the devotion and bring to men more abundant fruits of the redeeming Blood. . . As we now approach the feast and month devoted to honouring Christ's Blood –the price of our redemption, the pledge of salvation and life eternal – may Christians meditate on it more fervently, may they savour its fruits more frequently in sacramental communion. Let their meditations on the boundless power of the Blood be bathed in the light of sound biblical teaching and the doctrine of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. How truly precious this Blood is, is voiced in the song which the Church sings with the Angelic Doctor (in sentiments wisely seconded by our predecessor Clement VI): 'Blood that but one drop of has the world to win/ All the world forgiveness of its world of sin.'" – Pope St John XXIII. This marble sculpture of angels catching the Precious Blood of Christ in chalices is from the Lackawanna Basilica of Our Lady of Victory near Buffalo, NY.
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr