How few there are who avail themselves of the precious Blood of Jesus to purchase their salvation!
(St. Ignatius of Loyola)
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death. (Apocalypse of St. John Ch 12:11)
They, who recite devoutly the following Chaplet of the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, may every day gain an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines; they Who recite it daily, may, once a month gain A Plenary Indulgence, by complying with the usual conditions. They who recite only the concluding prayer: O most precious Blood, etc., may every day gain an indulgence of Three Hundred Days. All these indulgences are applicable to the souls of the faithful departed.
This Chaplet is composed of seven mysteries, in which are considered the seven times that Jesus shed his Blood for the love of us. After each mystery, the Lord’s Prayer is said five times, and Glory be to the Father, once, except at the last mystery, when only three paters are said, to complete the number 33, corresponding to the 33 years which our loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, lived upon earth; during which this adorable Blood flowed in His sacred veins before it was shed for the redemption of the world.
V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. world without end. Amen.
FIRST MYSTERY.
Our most amiable Redeemer shed, for the first time, His most precious Blood on the eighth day after His birth, when He was circumcised to fulfill the law of Moses; reflect that Jesus did so to satisfy the Divine Justice for our transgressions. Oh! let us excite in our hearts sincere sorrow for them, and let us promise, with his all powerful grace, to be henceforward truly chaste in body and soul.
Say the Lord’s Prayer five times, and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
SECOND MYSTERY.
Our most amiable Redeemer shed His sacred Blood in the Garden of Olives in so great a quantity, that the earth all around was moistened with it; and this was at the sight of the ingratitude with which he was to be repaid by men. Oh! let us then repent of having hitherto corresponded so ill to the innumerable favors of the Lord, and let us resolve to make in the future, good use of His grace and holy inspirations. Amen.
Say the Lord’s Prayer five times, and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
THIRD MYSTERY.
Our most amiable Redeemer shed His precious Blood, the third time, when He was cruelly scourged at the Pillar. Then as the skin and flesh were torn, gushed out abundantly those precious streams, which He offered to His eternal Father, in satisfaction for our impatience and dislike of suffering. Why, therefore, do we not subdue our anger and self love? Oh! let us labor for the time to come, to be more patient in tribulations, to despise ourselves, and to endure peacefully the injuries that may be done us.
Say the Lord’s Prayer five times, and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
FOURTH MYSTERY.
Our most amiable Redeemer’s Blood flowed from His most sacred Head, when crowned with thorns, to expiate our pride and wicked thoughts. And shall we still cherish haughtiness in our breast, and impure and perverse ideas in our mind? Oh! let us always be mindful of our own nothingness, wretchedness, and frailty, and let us generously resist all the sinful suggestions of the devil.
Say the Lord’s Prayer five times, and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
FIFTH MYSTERY.
Oh! how much Blood flowed from the veins of our amiable Jesus, in His most painful journey to Calvary, burdened, as He was, with the heavy wood of the Cross. This precious blood was sprinkled along the streets of Jerusalem, and every place through which He passed. He suffered this in satisfaction for the scandals and bad examples, by which His creatures drew others into the way of perdition. Oh! who knows whether we do not belong to the number of these unhappy wretches? Who knows how many have been cast into hell by the wicked example of our lives, and yet we do not overcome it? Ah! let us for the time to come contribute to the salvation of souls by advice, by edification, and by setting the example of good and holy works.
Say the Lord’s Prayer five times, and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
SIXTH MYSTERY.
The Redeemer of mankind shed His Blood still more copiously in His barbarous crucifixion, when the veins were torn, and the arteries broken, there issued from the wounds of His sacred hands and feet, that saving balm of eternal life. His blood flowed in torrents to wash away the wickedness and iniquity of the world, and to give us eternal life. And can there still be found men who will continue in sin, and thus renew the cruel passion of the Son of God? Oh! let us lament bitterly the faults we have committed; let us detest them at the feet of His sacred Minister; let us reform our ways, and enter on a Christian life, from this day forward, considering how much blood our salvation has cost our amiable Jesus.
Say the Lord’s Prayer five times, and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
SEVENTH MYSTERY.
Our most amiable Redeemer shed His precious Blood even after His death, when His loving heart and sacred side were opened by the spear; water also issued from this sacred wound, to show that His Blood was entirely exhausted, having been shed to the last drop for our Redemption. Oh, infinite goodness of our divine Redeemer! who will not love Thee? who will not melt with tender affection for thee, after so much toil and pain endured for our Redemption? Ah! since we want words to express ourselves, let us invite all the creatures of the earth; let us invite all the angels and saints in heaven, and especially Mary, our dear Mother, to bless, to praise, and to glorify Thy most precious Blood! Yes, praised be the Blood of Jesus, now and at all times, and for all eternity. Amen.
After this last mystery, say the Lord’s Prayer only three times,
and Glory be to the Father, once.
V. We beseech Thee, O Lord, to help Thy servants.
R. Whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood.
Then recite the following Prayer :
O most precious Blood, source of eternal life, the price and ransom of the entire world, refreshment, and laver of our souls, which dost continually advocate the cause of man before the throne of the Sovereign Mercy, I adore thee profoundly, and wish, as far as in me lies, to compensate the injuries, and the barbarous treatment, which thou continually receivest, and especially from those who rashly dare to blaspheme Thee. Oh! who will not bless this Blood of infinite value? Who will not feel his heart inflamed with love for Jesus, that shed it? What would have become of me, if I were not redeemed with this divine Blood? But what has drained the sacred veins of my Lord of His Blood, even to the last drop? Ah! it was surely His love. O infinite love, which has bestowed on us this all-healing balsam! O inestimable balsam, springing from the fountain of immense love! Oh ! make all hearts and all tongues praise, glorify, and thank Thee, now and for all eternity. Amen.
V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, by Thy Blood.
R. And hast made us a kingdom to our God.
Let us Pray.
O Almighty and Eternal God, Who hast appointed Thy only begotten Son, the Redeemer of the world, and wouldst be appeased by His Blood; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so venerate with solemn worship, this price of our Redemption, as to be protected by its virtue from the evils of this present life, and enjoy eternal rewards in Heaven: Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
Blessed are they who wash their robes in the Blood of the Lamb; that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.–Apocal. xxii. 14