António dos Santos
July is characterized by devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus ChriSt Pope Benedict XVI, on July 5, 2009, in St Peter’s Square, gave us an introduction on the devotion to the Most Precious Blood of the Lord saying: “Several of my venerable Predecessors confirmed this in the past century and Bl. John XXIII, with his Apostolic Letter Inde a Primis (30 June 1960), explained its meaning and approved its Litanies. The theme of blood, linked to that of the Paschal Lamb, is of primary importance in Sacred Scripture. In the Old Testament, sprinkling with the blood of sacrificed animals represented and established the covenant between God and his People, as we read in the Book of Exodus [Exodus, 24:8].”
The Pontiff recalled that Jesus refers explicitly to this formula during the Last Supper, when, offering the cup to the disciples, He says: “’This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’ [Mt 26: 28]. And effectively, from the scourging to the piercing of his side after his death on the Cross, Christ poured out all his Blood as the true Lamb sacrificed for the redemption of all.”
The salvific value of His Blood is expressly stated in many passages of the New Testament. Pope Emeritus Benedict quoted the beautiful words of the Letter to the Hebrews: “Christ entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own Blood, thus securing an eternal redemption…” (Hebrews, 9:11-14).
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT
St Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, gives us a profound image of the seriousness of the Eucharistic celebration in the Primitive Church (1 Corinthians 10:16-27).
At Mass, through the words of consecration, the priest draws, from the side of Christ the divine Blood. In the Eucharist, Christ is alive and offers His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that, even if the holiest of men had died on the cross, his sacrifice would be insufficient to rescue humanity from the clutches of the devil; a human sacrifice was needed, but of infinite value. Only God could offer this sacrifice.
It is by the shed Blood that He overcame and became King and Lord: “He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).
The Lord asked us to have fellowship with His flesh and His Blood; beyond the mystery, we know that our body seizes and lives on what it feeds. We also know by faith that the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Our Lord wants with His flesh and His Blood to transform our fallen flesh; to raise it up with His own on the cross, where His Blood continually is shed; the blood that purifies, and sanctifies the contrite heart, the soul thirsty of Christ! (Image: The Mystery of the Holy Trinity. Vision of sister Lucia of Fatima on 13 of June 1929)
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