July. The Precious Blood.

Our Lord shed His blood for our ransom, to buy us from the slavery of the devil and of sin. Not one drop of blood did He reserve for Himself; He shed it all most generously in our behalf. He was the Lamb of God without blemish, Who, according to God's designs for the redemption of mankind, was to be sacrificed. His blood was to be shed on the cross; from five great wounds it was to flow upon the earth, like the sacrifices of the Old Testament. These sufferings were precious in the sight of God, the Father, and gained for us the remission of our sins, the ransom from the slavery of Satan. Every drop of this blood was all powerful, because it represented the sacrifice of a God-man.

How precious are those drops of blood in the chalice on the altar at Mass, when the sacred blood of Christ is offered daily to God for our salvation! How we desire to drink that blood, that we may have life in us, for the Lord has said, “Unless you drink of My blood, you shall not have life in you.” How this blood flowed in the Garden of Gethsemani, at the scourging, at the crowning with thorns, and at the crucifixion! Precious blood of my Jesus, I adore thee; pour thyself over my soul that I may be washed in the blood of the Lamb.