The Precious Blood Devotion: 5 Ways to Pray

Elizabeth Leon offers five ways to deepen your family's devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus.

The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus, a devotion that goes all the way back to the early church. In 96 AD, Pope St. Clement I wrote:

Let us fix our gaze on the blood of Christ and realize how truly precious it is, seeing that it is poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion to the whole world.

The first blood sacrifice goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when God sacrificed an animal to provide garments of skin to cover the shame of their sin. The blood sacrifice of animals continued throughout the Old Testament as the Israelites attempted to atone for sin and idolatry, but our own efforts could never breach the chasm of sin between us and the Kingdom of God. It took the perfect sacrifice of the blameless Lamb of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to atone for humanity. His blood poured for ours.

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As a mother, I implore the Precious Blood of Jesus to help my children. Despite my many attempts to protect them from suffering, their hearts are pierced. Powerless to do more than pray, I bring them to the blood of Jesus. In my prayer, I carry my child asleep down the center aisle of church. I lay them on the altar where the blood and water from the pierced side of Christ will wash them clean. The precious blood of Jesus will cover them as it drips from the crucifix hanging overhead in the sanctuary. I find comfort and hope in surrendering them to the blood of Jesus, the source of life and ocean of mercy.

5 ways to deepen our devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus and pray for our families and the whole world. #catholicmom

Here are five other ways to deepen our devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus and pray for our families and the whole world.

Cover your intentions with the Precious Blood by praying the Novena of Confidence to the Sacred Heart.

O Lord Jesus Christ, to your most Sacred Heart, I confide this/these intention: (mention your intention)

Only look upon me, and then do What your Sacred Heart inspires.

Let your Sacred Heart decide I count on it, I trust in it I throw myself on Your mercy, Lord Jesus! You will not fail me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your Kingdom come.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I have asked you for many favors, But I earnestly implore this one. Take it. Place it in Your open, broken Heart; And, when the Eternal Father looks upon It, Covered with Your Precious Blood, He will not refuse it. It will be no longer my prayer, But Yours, O Jesus. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. Let me not be disappointed. Amen.

Pray at the moment of consecration when the priest raises the chalice:

Precious Blood of Jesus, cover us and the whole world.

Memorize and meditate on Scripture:

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:7)

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary

by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, (Hebrews 10:19-20)

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)

Pray the St. Gertrude prayer for your family and the holy souls in Purgatory:

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

Pray the Litany of the Precious Blood, approved by Pope John XXIII in 1960.

The Precious Blood of Jesus is the price paid for our redemption, the source of our justification, and the foundation of our hope. It flows freely from the pierced side of Christ and is offered again every day through the holy sacrifice of the Mass. May we cherish our salvation and the hope of eternal glory.

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