July--The month of the Precious Blood

July is the month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord. In 1849. Pius IX instituted the Feast of the Most Precious Blood, which, in the old calendar, was celebrated on July 1.

The devotion itself, however, is as old as the Church. The early Church Fathers held that the Church was born from the side of Christ with the flowing of His blood.

Pope John Paul II expressed it this way:

God chose the sign of blood because no other sign suggests a person's total involvement so eloquently.

Prayers for the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Christ

Precious Blood,
Ocean of Divine Mercy:
Flow upon us.

Precious Blood,
Most pure Offering:
Procure us every Grace!

Precious Blood,
Hope and Refuge of sinners:
Atone for us!

Precious Blood,
Delight of holy souls:
Draw us! Amen.

~St. Catherine of Siena

ANIMA Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Iesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.
Et iube me venire ad te,
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te
in saecula saeculorum.

Amen.

SOUL of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.
To come to Thee, bid me,
That I may praise Thee in the company
Of Thy Saints, for all eternity.

Amen.