J.M.J. June, whose focus is the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, quickly turns into July, during which we pay special attention to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.
It is 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 eternal covenant, which will
be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins."
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.
Mary, Mother of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, pray for us.
(Slightly edited article that appeared in the July 7, 1991 issue [page
four] of the National Catholic Register. Used with permission.)
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