Category Archives: Precious Blood

From his misery he raises the poor

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The excerpt from the Psalmody for Evening Prayer I for the Solemnity of the Annunciation on the Tuesday in the 5th week of Lent (that’s a mouthful) is from Psalm 113:7.

From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from his misery he raises the poor.

Courtesy: Divine Office.org

As alcoholics and addicts we were shunned and cast off towrds the margins of decent society. And rightfully so, for our actions caused this. Nevertheless, God loves each and everyone of us as we are, even in the depths of our sins. He made us, how can it be otherwise? We all have equal dignity in His eyes regardless of our worldly status. So, when He sees us deep in our addiction, He is at the ready to help. Sometimes He waits for us to reach out to Him, and at other times He doesn’t wait.

Just as Mary said “Yes,” to when the Archangel Gabriel announced to her that the Holy Spirit desriref to overshadow her so as the Second Person of the trinity could manifest Himself in her and redeem the world, you can say “Yes” to Him and become another Christ-bearer to others. 

The annunciation 1667.jpg!Large.

And He is not frightening, either. This is why He came to the world as an infant. God, the Creator of All, King of the Universe (and Multiverse, if that exists) entered intto human existence as a baby. He humbled umself that much just so as to be approachable. If it helps you to approach God in thaty manner, that is, regarding Him as an infant, that is perfectly acceptable! There is a old, venerable Catholic devotion known as the Devotion to the Infant Jesus (usually involving the “Infant Jesus of Prague.”) 

BY THE WAY: THIS ISN’T A DEVOTION FOR WOMEN, ONLY! Although it appears that women would be more attracted to this, it is a great way for men to learn humility. 

These websites have detailed information on the devotion to the  Infant Jesus. 

The Story of the Infant Jesus of Prague

Infant Jesus of Prague History & Devotion

Infant Jesus of Prague Novenas, Chaplet & Devotions

Prayers and Devotions to the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague

The Infant Jesus of Prague (EWTN!) Mother Angelica had a huge devotion to the Infant Jesus! See:

“Build Me a Temple”: Mother Angelica’s Mystical Visions of the Divine Child Jesus,

Mother Angelica describes her vision of the Divine Child Jesus,

and finally: Divino Niño Day

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

On Devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ

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July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. The devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ is as old as the Church, for we’ve learned through catechism or the Divine Mercy devotion that the Church was born from the side of Christ when St. Longinus pierced His sacred side with a lance and blood and water flowed out. Water signified Baptism, while the Blood signified the Eucharist. 

Some feel that it predates the Church. In Devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ, I wrote that…  

It is said to have dated to the Circumcision of Our Lord, when according to approved private revelations, Mary collected the blood Jesus had spilled.

Today, July 2nd, used to be the Feast of the Most Precious Blood, but it was removed from the Roman liturgical calendar in 1970. Nowadays, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is referred to as the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, so it was essentially combined into that. It is called ‘precious’ because it is Jesus’ offered His own blood to pay for the redemption of humanity. Jesus shed His very blood for the sake of all humanity, atoning for humanity’s sins. The devotion to the Most Precious Blood is yet another one dedicate to repentance and reparation, much like the Holy Face devotion, the Sacred Heart and the Fatima Message.

I find the Precious Blood Devotion to be a particulary pertinent one for us Sober Catholics, given that wine, abused by us during our active drinking years, is transubstantiated by the priest into His Blood during Mass. That which was killing us is now the source of our redemption. This does not mean that we can partake of the wine at Mass; as I said in Appendix B of “The Sober Catholic Way,”

While the wine is transubstantiated by the priest during Mass, it still retains the properties of alcohol.

The Church teaches that the entirety of the Real Presence of Christ, that being His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity are found in the transubstantiated bread. Therefore there is no reason at all for an alcoholic of any length of sobriety to receive the Eucharist in the form of wine.

Nevertheless, I think that the idea of turning something that was dangerous for us into a devotion to help keep us sober, merely because God transformed it into a substance through which we can attain eternal life, is emblematic of how He works through His Church. There is a lot to dwell on with that statement, if you pause to consider it. That’s the whole message of SoberCatholic.com and my books: that the Catholic Church through the Mass, Sacraments and her devotions can sustain one’s freedom from addiction. And get you so much more. 

Check out the resources on the Precious Blood I linked to in this post.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

July is Dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus

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July dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. There is a devotion to the Precious Blood and information on that is in the links at the end of this post.

I have not personally developed a devotion to this; no reason except that I haven’t felt impelled or inspired to do so like the numerous other ones. However, when you consider that sacramentally, the Precious Blood is the concecrated wine at Mass, and as a alcoholic we cannot drink that, there must be a way to connect this devotion to our sobriety. I may look into this further and post about what I come up with. 

This may be included in a future revised edition of The Sober Catholic Way . Don’t wait; any such thing will be years away, if ever. But, it might be included in a prayer book I am developing which hopefully will be out before the end of the year. 

On Devotion to the Precious Blood:

Devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ

Jesus and Mary and the Precious Blood

Seven Days of Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Prayer of St. Gertrude for the Holy Souls

And this final link has a lot of other resoures on the Precious Blood.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

August: The Immaculate Heart of Mary month!

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And so ends July, the Month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Next up: August which is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

I am thinking of starting a new series; related to the Sacred Heart Friday posts I began in January, these will be “Immaculate Heart Saturday.” Each Saturday for as long as I am able I will post something related to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Many of them will be about the First Saturday Devotions as well as posts related to Fatima. I will probably include a few more in the unfinished series on the Alliance of the Two Hearts. Oh, there’s lots I can do!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

More info on the Precious Blood Blood of Jesus

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I can’t end the month dedicated to the Precious Blood without mentioning a few resources. Check out these links!

3 Ways to Cultivate Devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus – SpiritualDirection.com:

Association of the Precious Blood

Prayers to the Precious Blood of Jesus 

More Prayers to the Precious Blood of Jesus

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Prayer of St. Gertrude for Souls

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One last Precious Blood Prayer for this Sacred Heart Friday to close out July. I say this prayer often while going up to receive Holy Communion; it is reputed to release thousands of souls from Purgatory every time it’s recited. The Church doesn’t endorse or approve this prayer, nor does it disapprove or discourage it and she makes no guarantees as to its efficacy in releasing Holy Souls. But it’s a nice prayer, very old and traditional. And there’s nothing wrong with saying it.

The Prayer of St. Gertrude

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Holy Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family.

Amen.

Read more at: Pray More Novenas

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Seven Days Of Prayer For The Souls In Purgatory

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For this Sacred Heart Friday I introduce you to a devotion I say every day. It is the Seven Days of Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. It is from the Raccolta, which is a handbook of indulgenced prayers. 

You start with the “Preparatory Prayer for every day,” followed by the particular prayer for the day, finishing with the Our Father, Hail Mary and the. Eternal Rest prayer and a concluding prayer.

It invokes the Precious Blood of Jesus, and so is an apt way to close out the month of July, which is dedicated to that.

 

SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY

Preparatory Prayer for every day:
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

(Here say the prayer for today, concluding with these:)

0ur Father

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Concluding Prayer

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, Whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for Each Day

Sunday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring him into Your glory, where he may praise and bless You forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Monday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who is nearest to his entrance into Your glory, that he may soon begin to praise You and bless You forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Tuesday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, particularly that soul who is in greatest need of our prayers, in order that he may no longer be delayed in praising You in Your glory and blessing You forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Wednesday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed on the streets of Jerusalem, while He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially the one who is richest in merits in Your sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which he is destined, he may praise You triumphantly and bless You forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Thursday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Body and Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus, which He Himself, on the night before His Passion, gave as meat and drink to His Beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the Perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, most of all, that soul who was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that he may praise You therefore, together with Your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Your glory forever. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Friday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Jesus Your Divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders You from admitting him quickly to the possession of Your glory, where he may praise You and bless You forevermore. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Saturday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred side of Your Divine Son Jesus in the presence and to the great sorrow of His Most Holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who has been the most devout to this noble Lady, that he may come quickly into Your glory, there to praise You in her, and her in You, through all the ages. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Pope St. John XXIII and the Precious Blood

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On this latest Sacred Heart Friday post, I delve into Pope St. John XXIII and his promotion of the Precious Blood Devotion.

 

In 1960, he wrote the apostolic letter Inde a Primis, encouraging devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus. In it he describes the devotion over the centuries including some personal accounts of how important this devotion was to him as a child and later in life. In that same year, the Holy Father added the invocation to the Precious Blood to the Divine Praises:

Blessed be God.

Blessed be his holy Name.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.

Blessed be the name of Jesus.

Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.

Blessed be his most Precious Blood.

Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.

Blessed be her glorious Assumption.

Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.

Blessed be St Joseph, her spouse most chaste.

Blessed be God in his Angels and in his Saints.

 

This wasn’t enough for Good Pope John. The Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ was drawn up by the Sacred Congregation of Rites and promulgated by Pope John XXIII on February 24, 1960. The  devotion to Jesus in His most Precious Blood was first popularized by St. Gaspar del Bufalo who founded the Missioners of the Most Precious Blood. St. Gaspar del Bufalo was hailed by Pope John XXIII as “the world’s greatest apostle of the devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.”

 

Here is the Litany:

 

Lord, have mercy.    Lord, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy.    Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. 

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. 
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, save us. 
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word or God, save us. 
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us. 

Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony, save us. 
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us. 
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us. 

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us. 
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us. 
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us. 

Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us. 
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us. 
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us. 

Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us. 
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us. 
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us. 

Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us. 
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us. 
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us. 

Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us. 
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us. 
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.


Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us. 
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us. 
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us. 

Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. 
Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. 
Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord. 

V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood. 
R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom. 

Let us pray; 

Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, 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. Amen. 

 

That’s it for this week’s Sacred Heart Friday; next week I’ll come up with something else, perhaps a bit on St. Gaspar del Bufalo and his work.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)