We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Jesus Christ Shed His Most Precious Blood--For Us!
FREE Catholic Classes
+J.M.J.+
by Monsignor Charles M. Mangan
©Catholic Online 2005
It's often said that the communications media--radio, television, print and Internet--tend to report primarily "bad news." The morning headlines and the evening news programs have at least one thing in common: gore. The more blood that is ruthlessly spilled, the more ink that is used to describe in chilling detail the gruesome facts.
To rational people, this continuous bloodletting seems insane. The murders, suicides and maimings pile up with no relief in sight. From such violence comes the inevitable fallout: society at large becomes bitter and unforgiving, desensitized to the horrendous reality of such brutality. Shedding blood, whether one's own or another's, seems nowadays to be no big deal.
The Church has traditionally dedicated July to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. The Faithful everywhere recall, as the Consecration of the Mass states, "the Blood of the new and everlasting covenant [which] will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven" (Mt 26:28).
While countless gallons of blood in our contemporary era are senselessly wasted in vain, the Blood of Christ was shed for the noble purpose of reuniting fallen humanity to its Creator.
The warm, soothing Blood of the Redeemer served as a healing salve for a world grown cold. As Jesus, soaked in His own Blood, hung on the cross for the world's salvation, the human race witnessed proof that God would spare nothing in His desire to reestablish sanctifying grace in His sons and daughters.
Although Christ poured out His Blood on Calvary nearly two millennia ago, the merits of that generous act extend to today. Those who have been baptized "are washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb." The Precious Blood of Jesus urges the followers of the Lord to imitate the remarkable charity of Christ by selflessly serving God and neighbor.
The World Apostolate of Fatima has long used this Morning Offering which captures the essence of the redemptive power of Christ's Blood and the subsequent invitation given by Jesus to all believers: "O my God, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ from all the altars of the world, joining with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day."
The Blood of Christ has been shed. But the transforming force of the Precious Blood will be realized only in the hearts of those who are receptive. To resist the stirrings of the Holy Spirit is to render the subjective efficacy of Christ's Blood ineffective. As with all of God's gifts, the Precious Blood must be yielded to if It is to have the result for the individual that Christ intends.
Often it appears that our world thirsts for violence. We are inundated by crime waves, wars and ugly domestic quarrels. The Blood of Christ reminds us of a different way to pour out blood: a generous, unforced sacrifice on behalf of others. Instead of responding to hatred with more of the same, we hold aloft the cleansing Blood of Jesus that knew no limits in demonstrating love for a misguided race.
Slightly edited article that appeared in the July 7, 1991 issue (page four) of the "National Catholic Register." Used with permission.
Contact
Mary's Field
https://www.catholic.org
, VA
Monsignor Charles M. Mangan - Official, 390 66616-1125
fathermangan@catholic.org
Keywords
Most Precious Blood of Jesus; Redemption: Salvation
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.
Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.Help Now >
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol