Our Monthly Devotions :: Chaplet of the Precious Blood.

Chaplet of the Precious Blood.

This chaplet is composed of seven mysteries, in which we meditate upon the seven times in which Jesus Christ for love of us shed blood from His most innocent body; at each mystery, except the last, we are to say five Our Fathers and one Glory be to the Father, thus making up the number of thirty-three Our Fathers in remembrance of the thirty-three years during which the precious blood of Jesus flowed in His veins, before it was all poured out for our salvation. The Chaplet ends with the devout prayer, “O most precious blood, etc.”

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The Chaplet.

V. Incline unto my aid, O God.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, etc.

R. As it was, etc.

First Mystery.

The first time our loving Saviour shed His precious blood for us was on the eighth day after His birth, when He was circumcised in order to accomplish the Law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that Jesus did this to satisfy the justice of God for our dissolute lives, let us excite ourselves to true sorrow for them, and promise, with the help of His all-powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul.

Five Our Fathers and one Glory.

We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood.

Second Mystery.

Next in the Garden of Olives, Jesus shed His blood for us in such quantity that it bathed the earth around. This took place at the sight of the ingratitude with which men would meet His love. Oh, let us then repent sincerely, because we have hitherto corresponded so illy with the innumerable benefits of Our God, and resolve to make good use of His graces and holy inspirations.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

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Third Mystery.

Next, in His cruel scourging, Jesus shed His blood, when His flesh was so torn that rivers of blood flowed from His body in every part, all of which He offered, all the time, to His eternal Father in payment of our impatience and our delicacy. How is it, then, we do not curb our anger and our self-love? Henceforth we will indeed try our very best to bear our troubles well, and, despising ourselves, to take peacefully the injuries which men may do us.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Fourth Mystery.

Again, from the sacred head of Jesus, blood poured down when it was crowned with thorns, in punishment of our pride and evil thoughts. Shall we, then, continue to nurture haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and feed the wayward will in our minds? Henceforth let there ever be before our eyes our utter nothingness, our misery and our weakness; and with generous hearts let us resist all the wicked suggestions of the devil.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Fifth Mystery.

How much of His precious blood did not our loving Lord pour forth from His veins, when laden with the heavy wood of the cross on the mournful way to Calvary, so that the streets and [pg 327] ways of Jerusalem through which He passed were watered with it! This was done in satisfaction for the scandals and the bad examples by which His own creatures had led others astray on the way to ruin. Who can tell how many of us are of this unhappy number? Who knows how many he himself alone has by his own bad example brought down to hell? And have we done anything to remedy this evil? Let us henceforth, at least, endeavor all we can to save souls by word and by example, making ourselves a pattern to all of a good and holy life.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Sixth Mystery.

Still more copiously the Redeemer of mankind shed blood in His barbarous crucifixion; when His veins being rent and arteries burst, there rushed forth in a torrent from His hands and His feet that saving balm of life eternal, to pay for all the crimes and enormities of the universe. Whoever, after this, would continue in sin, and so renew the cruel crucifixion of the Son of God? Let us weep bitterly for our bad deeds, and let us detest them at the feet of the sacred minister of God; let us amend our evil ways, and henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the thought ever in our hearts of all the blood which our eternal salvation cost the Saviour of men.

Five Our Fathers, etc.

We beseech, etc.

Seventh Mystery.

Last of all, after His death, when His sacred side was opened, and His loving Heart was [pg 328] wounded, Jesus shed blood, and with the blood there came forth water, to show us how the blood was all poured out to the last drop for our salvation. Oh, the infinite goodness of Our Redeemer! Who will not love Thee, my Saviour? What heart will not consume itself away for love of Thee, Who hast done all this for our redemption? The tongue wants words to praise Thee; let us, then, invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and all saints in paradise, and most of all, our dear Mother Mary, to bless, to praise, and to celebrate Thy most precious blood. Glory to the blood of Jesus! Glory to the blood of Jesus! now and ever throughout all ages. Amen.

At this last mystery three Our Fathers and one Glory be to the Father, etc., are said to make up the number of thirty-three.

We beseech, etc.

Then the following

Prayer.

O most precious blood of eternal life, the ransom and redemption of the whole universe! the drink and bath of our souls, thou who art ever pleading the cause of men before the throne of God's sovereign mercy! I adore thee most profoundly, and desire, as far as it is in my power, to compensate thee for the insults and affronts which thou art continually receiving at the hands of men, especially of those who rashly dare to blaspheme thee. And who is there that will not bless this blood of infinite value? Who is there that will not feel himself inflamed with love for Jesus, Who shed it? What should I be if I had not been redeemed by this divine blood? What was it that drew thee forth from the veins of my Lord, even to the last drop? Ah! [pg 329] it was naught else but love. O boundless love, that has given us this balsam of salvation! O balsam beyond price, streaming forth from the well-spring of a boundless love, grant, oh, grant that every heart and tongue may praise, and magnify, and bless thee, now and forever, even unto the day of eternity. Amen.

V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy blood.

R. And Thou hast made us a kingdom unto Our God.

O almighty and eternal God, Who hast appointed Thy only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His blood, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may venerate upon earth the price of our salvation, and be shielded by its might from the evils of this present life, so that we may enjoy it everlastingly in heaven. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

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We may during this month take up the devotion to the Holy Ghost.

This devotion to the Holy Spirit should be the chief of all devotions, because it was the first that was ever celebrated, and that by no less devout worshippers than the holy apostles and the most holy Mary in the upper room at Jerusalem. It is one which is growing in the hearts of the people, because so much depends for our sanctification on the influence of the graces bestowed on us by God the Holy Ghost. Faith teaches us that the Holy Ghost is the love which the Father and the Son bear one to the other; and therefore the gift of love which the Lord infuses into our souls, and which is the greatest of all gifts, is attributed to the Holy Ghost. St. Paul says, “The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, Who is given to us.”—Rom. v. 5.

The Holy Ghost, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son is called a fire, because His action in our souls purifies us from sin and fills us with divine love. As the action of fire may be said to be irresistible, it is right that the Holy Ghost be represented by that symbol, since He was to give spirit and wisdom to Christians, which all their adversaries should not be able to resist or gainsay.

If we observe the commandments of God, the Holy Spirit will abide with us to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills, and give us grace to follow Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will give us an increase of devotion towards the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and the sacrifice of the Mass, and will pour the charity of God into our hearts.

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