3-5 July 2025
The Bible speaks with a certain frequency of blood. In the sacrifices prescribed by the Law of Moses the blood of animals was shed on the altar to mark a ritual atonement for sin. Since man could not pour out his own blood to manifest his sorrow for sins he had committed, God ordained that he should offer the blood of animals instead. This blood, however, had no power to make reparation for sin; it could only manifest man’s guilt and need of forgiveness.
The first blood we encounter in Holy Scripture is that of Abel who was killed by his brother Cain. Cain was taken by envy, seeing that Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable to God, while his wasn’t. Refusing to humble himself he revolted and decided to get rid of his brother. He struck him, and Abel’s blood poured out upon the ground. Genesis tells us that God asked Cain where his brother was, and Cain replies he does not know. But God answers: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground (Gen 4:10). The blood of Abel, like the blood of any innocent person – today we think especially of the blood of the innocent unborn and the innocent victims of war – cries out from the earth; it cries out for vengeance. A few chapters later, just after the flood, God says: Whosoever shall shed man’s blood, his blood shall be shed: for man was made to the image of God (Gen 9:6).
St Paul tells us that Jesus by his own blood, entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb 9:12), and that the blood of Jesus speaketh better than that of Abel (Heb 12:24). The blood of Jesus does not call down vengeance; it calls down mercy. While the men who shed His most Precious Blood did so out of evil and would have deserved death, Our Blessed Saviour, out of the abundance of His love for men, poured it out willingly for the salvation of each and every one of us. All we have to do is accept the purification offered by His Blood, having recourse to the Church who disposes of its power through the sacraments.
So as we contemplate the mystery of this Precious Blood and as we honour it during this month July – for example by reciting the Litany of the Precious Blood – we need first of all to offer thanks to God for having so lovingly poured it out for love of us. We must also contemplate the terrible suffering endured in the Passion. How much our sins cost our blessed Lord, and how little we do for Him in exchange! This should inspire us generosity in offering penances, prayer and fasting, just to show our love for Him but also to take our little share in the sufferings of so many of our brothers and sisters around the world who at this very moment are going through the drama of intense suffering – and sometimes death – due to war and persecution. May this triduum revive our love for Jesus and our zeal for souls!
