Why July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
When Pope Pius IX was in exile, he prayed that the Blood of Christ would strengthen him. The special veneration of the Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the traditions of the Catholic Church related to the Passion of the Lord. By this veneration we honor Christ's great sacrifice and the fact that He shed His holy blood for the salvation of mankind. Moreover, in the gift of the Eucharist that he left for us, we can receive this Blood together with his Body in the form of bread and wine. At different times the Church celebrated different feasts in honor of the Precious Blood, but it was not until the nineteenth century that a universal feast was instituted. During the First Italian War of Independence in 1849, Pope Pius IX went into exile in the city of Gaeta. He was accompanied by Don Giovanni Merlini, third Superior General of the Order of Missionaries of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As the war continued to rage, Merlini proposed to Pope Pius IX that a universal feast of the Precious Blood be established to implore God's heavenly help to end the war and bring peace to Rome. And on June 30, 1849, Pius IX made a declaration that he intended to establish such a feast. Soon the war ended and the Pope returned to Rome. On August 10, he officially announced that the 1st Sunday in July would be dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Pope Pius X made July 1 the permanent date for this celebration. After Vatican Council II, the feast was removed from the liturgical calendar, but a votive Mass was instituted in honor of the Precious Blood, which is celebrated throughout July (and other months of the year). Therefore, the entire month of July is traditionally dedicated to the Precious Blood, and all Catholics are encouraged by the Church to reflect at this time on the priceless sacrifice of Jesus, who shed His Blood for the salvation of humanity. Below is the opening prayer of the votive Mass, as well as an additional prayer that can be used as our personal prayer or reflection during the month of July. O God, who redeemed the whole world with the Precious Blood of your beloved Son, preserve in us the work of your grace, so that by continually honoring the mystery of our salvation, we may be privileged to taste the fruits of that mystery. Through Jesus Christ, your only Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. Called to your holy altar, O Lord, we gladly draw water from the springs of salvation. We pray you, may your Precious Blood, received by us in Holy Communion, become in us a fountain of living water flowing into eternal life. Amen.
