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Covered in Grace: How the Chaplet of the Precious Blood Transforms Daily Life


The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.  Devotion to the Precious Blood is often said to be as old as Christianity itself, with its roots traced directly to the foot of the Cross and the earliest Christian writings.  Around 96 A.D., St. Pope Clement I wrote about the Blood of Christ, in a message to the Corinthians, “Fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ and realize how truly precious It is, seeing that It was poured out for our salvation.”  


During the Passion of Jesus Christ, not one drop of blood was shed that didn’t carry infinite power to save souls.  God does not do anything in vain.  Every action, creation, and decree has deliberate purpose. Intentionally the shedding of Jesus’ blood accomplished several interconnected purposes: The forgiveness of sin; redemption; justification; enacting the new covenant;  the birth of the Church and the sacraments; ongoing source of grace; supreme revelation of Divine Love.  Because His blood legally cancels our debt, it immediately clears the path for intimacy.  We are not just pardoned sinful criminals; we are adopted children.  The blood that removes our guilt is the exact same blood that brings us close to God.  Hebrews 9:22 states, “According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  In essence, the shedding of blood satisfies justice while allowing God to extend His Divine Mercy to the sinner. 


Relational intimacy through shared vulnerability is a core Christian thought.  Jesus shed His blood, He gave Himself to you – this is the very essence of love. Contemplating the Passion of Christ, with focus on the spilling of His Precious Blood, one may be thinking - What can God give me?  The real spiritual response should be – Look how much God loves me! The latter spiritual response promotes an atmosphere of total trust in God.


How is God vulnerable to humanity?  One simple response, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Here, God fully entered into the human experience.  In this human encounter God consents to all human emotions and feelings; betrayal, agony, physical suffering and mortality.  The ultimate expression of vulnerability is the Crucifixion, as the Creator allows His creatures to torture and kill Him.  


The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians 2:13 that those who were once “far off have been brought near by the Blood of Christ.”  The Precious Blood devotion provides confidence to Catholics to approach God as a loving Father, rest assured in His eternal covenant of peace. The main reason Catholics deeply revere the Precious Blood of Jesus devotions, centers on its role as the essence of the Mass, the supreme source of our atonement and redemption, and a vital means for attaining spiritual protection and personal holiness. 


A comprehensive historical overview of the profusion of devotional prayers attributed to the salvific power of Christ’s Precious Blood requires broader treatment than is possible within the confines of this discussion.  However, a few popular devotional practices include: The Litany of the Precious Blood; the Chaplet of the Precious Blood; The Daily Offering of the Precious Blood; Devotion to the Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood.


Among the rich devotions of the Catholic Church, the Chaplet of Most Precious Blood remains a preferred devotion. This structured chaplet was composed in 1809 by Venerable Francesco Albertini, a prominent Italian priest and founder of the Archconfraternity of the Precious Blood.  Albertini was the spiritual director to Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, who would later found the Missionaries for the Precious Blood and spread the devotion throughout Europe. 


Biographical research revealed that St. Gaspar grew up in Rome and his father, Antonio del Bufalo was the head chef for the princely Altieri family, living in the servants’ quarters of the Palazzo Altieri.  The coincidence of the two names sharing history – the medieval Altieri palace where St. Gaspar lived as a boy and the modern day Father Altier linking together makes for a great piece of Catholic trivia.   


The traditional chaplet utilizes 33 beads – representing the 33 years of Christ’s earthly life – and is structured around the seven principal sheddings of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.  The Our Father prayer is prayed five times after each mystery, then a Glory Be is prayed followed by the Collect, “We pray you Lord help your servants! Whom you have redeemed with Your Precious Blood.”


Reflecting deeply on the Seven Mysteries of the Chaplet of the Precious Blood, beyond meditating on these moments, I invite you to explore how to carry the fruits of each mystery forward.  Allowing His Precious Blood to shape our actions and transform our hearts.


First Mystery:  Jesus shed His Blood in the circumcision.  Let us ask for chastity of soul and body. 

Definition of Chastity: CCC 2337-2350

Offenses of Chastity Include: Lust; Masturbation; Fornication; Pornography; Prostitution; Rape; Homosexuality. (CCC 2351-2359)

Remedy: Active spiritual discipline with deep reliance on God’s grace: Frequent reception of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confession; Practicing custody of the eyes and mind; Avoid idleness; Fasting; Study JPII’s “Theology of the Body.” 

Targeted Prayer for Purity (St Thomas Aquinas – Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas for Purity https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6328932482517932cb93e985/t/632f2806e043ad0f8ff92a1a/1664034822980/AWC_DailyPrayersCard.pdf)


Second Mystery: Jesus shed His Blood in the agony while praying in the Garden of Olives.  Let us ask for the spirit of prayer.

Definition of Prayer: CCC 2558-2565

Offenses of Prayer Include: Erroneous Notions of Prayer (False Ideas); Psychological Trick; Reducing Prayer to a Rote Action; Worldly Attitudes; Discouragement; Material Attachments; Impatient Demands; Wounded Pride; Distractions; Spiritual Sloth (Acedia); Lack of Faith; Willful Disobedience. (CCC 2726-2733)  

Remedy: Schedule daily prayer quiet time; Use proven prayers like the Rosary, daily devotionals; Practice Lectio Divina; Seek Silence; Keep a prayer journal; Attend retreats; Attend Eucharistic Adoration daily/weekly.

Targeted Prayer for Learning How to Pray Well: This prayer of St. Teresa of Avila recalls God’s presence in the “interior castle” of the heart. 


Third Mystery: Jesus shed His Blood in the Scourging at the Pillar.  Let us ask for patience and self-control.

Definition of Patience and Self-Control: CCC 737; 1808; 1809: 1832; 1838.

Offenses of Patience and Self-Control: Acting out of uncontrolled emotion; Giving into disordered bodily desires; Refusing to endure difficulties with faith and trust in God; Wrath (Anger); Impatience with God’s timing; Vain Despair or Despondency; Acedia (Spiritual Sloth); Gluttony; Lust; Greed (Avarice); Intemperance and Vainglory. (CCC 1753; 1866; 1809; 2091; 2094; 2303-2303; 2514-2533)

Remedy: Frequent reception of the Eucharist and Reconciliation; Prayer and Adoration; Praying the Rosary; Fasting and Penance; Custody of the eyes/mind; Hidden acts of self-denial.

Targeted Prayer for Learning How to Obtain Patience and Self-Control:  The Litany of Patience (Choleric’s Prayer) written by Catholic author and blogger Christina Dehan Jaloway offers a modern companion to the traditional Catholic Litany of Humility.

In addition: The Litany of Peace authored by Father Matthew Guckin offers prayer for self-control.


Fourth Mystery: Jesus shed His Blood in the Crowning with Thorns.  Let us ask for humility to atone for pride.

Definition of Humility: CCC 2559; 2546

Offenses of Humility Include:  Pride and Self-Exaltation; Vainglory; False Humility; Boasting and Flattery; Insolence and Disobedience; Envy and Jealousy. (CCC 1753; 1849-1851; 1866; 2094; 2216-2220; 2334-2243; 2359; 2480-2481)  

Remedy: Regular Confession; Receiving Holy Communion is considered the ultimate catalyst for cultivating the virtue of humility; Meditating on the Gospels; Speaking as little as possible about yourself; Accept censures, insults and small irritations with good humor; Embracing the last place attitude (taking the back seat, letting someone go ahead of you in a traffic jam, take small portions of food, learning to tame your desire to be first); Assuming the best intentions in all people and situations; Cultivate a spirit of gratitude; Focus on obeying God.

Targeted Prayer for Cultivating Humility: The Litany of Humility written by Cardinal Merry del Val 


Fifth Mystery: Jesus shed His Blood while carrying His Cross to Calvary.  Let us ask for acceptance of our daily crosses.

Definition of Daily Crosses: CCC 618; 2157; 2427

Offenses of not carrying our daily crosses: Despair; Presumption; Rebellion against God; Acedia; Impatience; Murmuring or Complaining; Idolatry and Worldliness. (CCC 1500-1502; 2097; 2091- 2094; 2112-2114; 2733; 2400; 2477)

Remedy: Offer the “Little Things” daily – these are opportunities to practice and choose God’s Will over your own comfort; Practice radical acceptance – recognizing God is in charge; Embrace spiritual detachment – letting go of the need for constant emotional consolations or worldly achievements; Rely on daily prayer, scripture, adoration, and the sacraments; Learn to live in the moment instead of the past or future – Trust in God.

Targeted Prayer for Acceptance of Carrying Crosses: St. Therese of Lisieux of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face wrote “An Act of Oblation as a Victim of Divine Love.” This prayer offers a shift in focus of suffering (carrying daily crosses) from enduring punishment to offering one’s pain out of pure love to God.


Sixth Mystery:  Jesus shed His Blood in the terrible Crucifixion.  Let us ask for contrition.

Definition of Contrition: CCC 1451-1454

Offenses Against True Contrition: The Gravity of Mortal and Venial Sins CCC 1854-1864

Remedy: Regular practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; Daily Examination of Conscience; Pray short penitential prayers daily – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner;” Make sacrifices and fast; Start your day with the mindset towards virtue and repentance by praying a morning offering to God. 

Targeted Prayer for True Contrition: Act of Contrition 


Seventh Mystery: Jesus shed His Blood and water from His side pierced by the Lance.  Let us ask for perseverance.

Definition of Perseverance: CCC 1810; 1839; 2016; 2728; 2742

Offenses Against Perseverance: Inconstancy; Hardness of Heart; Rejection of God’s grace; Sins against the virtue of Hope; Despair; Presumption

Remedy: Frequent reception of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation; Daily prayers for “Final Perseverance”; Practice of the virtue of Fortitude; Practicing self-discipline; Learning to face each day with patience; Meditating daily on the Passion of Christ; Practicing daily devotionals.

Targeted Prayer for Perseverance: Authored by MaryBeth Eiler – A Prayer for Perseverance Through A Long Season


Final Prayer: Eternal Father, I offer You the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in atonement for my sins, in supplication for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for the needs of the Holy Church. Amen. 


References:


By Patricia Altier

 
 
 

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