July 1st – Traditional Roman Calendar
Liturgical Rank: Double of the First Class
Liturgical and Hagiographical Overview
Though not centered on a particular saint, this feast has a profoundly hagiographical character in that it honors an aspect of Our Lord’s Sacred Humanity—His Most Precious Blood—with the same solemnity and veneration that the Church gives to her greatest martyrs.
The Blood of Christ is not merely symbolic; it is real, efficacious, and the very price of our redemption. From His Circumcision to the agony in Gethsemane, from the scourging and crowning with thorns to the Crucifixion and the piercing of His Sacred Heart, the shedding of His Blood marks every step of His earthly Passion. It is the supreme manifestation of Divine Love.
Saints such as Catherine of Siena, Bernard of Clairvaux, and Gaspar del Bufalo taught, lived, and promoted a deep devotion to the Precious Blood. Saint Catherine called it the “Blood of the Lamb without blemish,” the price of every soul.
Historical Origins of the Feast
While devotion to the Blood of Christ is ancient—reflected in early Eucharistic theology, the writings of the Fathers, and the veneration of martyrs—it was formally established as a feast in 1849 by Pope Pius IX. This was in thanksgiving for his return to Rome after exile during the revolutions of 1848.
Initially celebrated on the first Sunday of July, Pope Saint Pius X fixed the date to July 1st, where it has remained in the liturgical calendar of the traditional Roman Rite. Though removed from the modern calendar after the post-Vatican II liturgical reforms and merged with the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, it continues to be observed with great reverence by traditional Catholics.
Theological and Spiritual Significance
The Precious Blood of Christ is:
- Redemption – It is the price paid for our sins, satisfying Divine Justice.
- Sanctification – It is the source of all sacramental grace.
- Protection – It is a safeguard against the attacks of the devil and temptation.
- Reparation – It is the means of atonement for the sins of the world.
- Love – It is the visible expression of the love of the Sacred Heart.
As St. Peter writes:
“You were not redeemed with corruptible things… but with the Precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled.” (1 Peter 1:18–19)
The Blood shed upon Calvary and made present in every Holy Mass is the very same Blood that cleanses souls in Baptism, fortifies them in Confirmation, absolves them in Confession, and strengthens them in the Eucharist.
Saints of the Precious Blood
- St. Catherine of Siena – Her mystical theology revolves around the Precious Blood, which she often referred to as a bridge between Heaven and earth.
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux – Preached powerfully on the Passion and the Blood flowing from the Five Wounds of Christ.
- St. Gaspar del Bufalo – A 19th-century priest who founded the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, dedicating his life to preaching the power of Christ’s Blood.
- St. Thomas Aquinas – Taught that the Blood of Christ, though separated from the Body in the Passion, remains united to His Divinity and is present whole and entire in the Blessed Sacrament.
Devotional Practices
- Litany of the Precious Blood – Approved by Pope Saint John XXIII in 1960, it offers a comprehensive meditation on the mysteries of Christ’s Blood.
- Chaplet of the Precious Blood – A prayer recalling the seven major bloodsheddings of Jesus.
- Holy Hours and Masses of Reparation – Especially appropriate on this feast and throughout the month of July.
- Daily Offering – Uniting one’s daily work, sufferings, and prayers to the Blood of Christ for the conversion of sinners and the relief of souls in purgatory.
- Consecration to the Precious Blood – A personal act of devotion to be made on this feast or during the month of July.
Recommended Readings and Spiritual Reflections
- “The Glories of the Precious Blood” – Rev. Fr. Max Baroni, C.PP.S.
- Dialogues – St. Catherine of Siena (especially her treatise on the Blood of Christ)
- Sermons on the Passion – St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- Writings of St. Gaspar del Bufalo – Especially his exhortations on the power of the Blood to transform souls and protect the Church
Optional Learning Path: “Mystery of the Precious Blood”
Would you like to follow a 7-day learning path focused on the devotion to the Precious Blood? This includes:
- Daily readings from Scripture and the saints
- Guided meditations and prayers
- Instruction on Eucharistic theology and the Passion
- A final act of consecration to the Precious Blood
This path is ideal for the month of July, which is traditionally dedicated to the Precious Blood. Let me know if you’d like to begin today.