Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Nineteenth Day.
In the life of the Venerable Ann of Jesus, a companion of St. Teresa, we read that at communion her mouth was sensibly filled with very sweet blood, which flowed from the Host. St. Clare of Rimini's holy and mysterious thirst was appeased only by the blood in the Host. Marcella Benci used to serve St. Philip of Neri's Mass, and frequently saw the chalice full of blood. Margaret Beanne the Carmelite saw habitually the blood of Jesus in the souls of men; they were so beautified by it that she could not bear to hear any one censured because of the reverence she felt even for the souls of the wicked, for she saw them covered with the blood of Jesus. Sister Benedict of Egersheim after communion used to feel sensibly Our Lord's blood flowing as a torrent down into the abyss of her soul, and burning away all the remnants of sin, leaving her a most pure vessel of sanctity. Such are some of the examples of the thoughts and experience of the saints in communing with the precious blood, which made them what they were, friends of God and intimate with Jesus Christ, the Spouse of their souls.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.
Twentieth Day.
There is no surer sign of the growth of a special devotion than when the Church erects a confraternity in its honor. These confraternities keep the devotion alive, direct it, and embody all its practices. There is the archconfraternity of the Precious Blood in Rome, and this confraternity forms the keystone of all the confraternities throughout the world. Popes have enriched it with many indulgences, and have given to the Passionists and to the missionaries of the precious blood special blessings. Among the people of Spain we notice particularly the rise and continuance of societies devoted to the honoring of the precious blood. Leo XIII. enriched the societies with many indulgences. Pope Pius IX., of glorious memory, authorized the wearing of the red scapular. When he returned from exile he instituted a new feast distinct from the one celebrated in Lent. So many favors have been granted to it that we receive the impression that it is the special devotion of the Holy See.
Prayer.