Devotions have been part of the Church almost from the time of its inception. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, devotions are particular customs, rituals and practices of worship of God or honour of the saints, which are in addition to the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Meaning that they don’t and must not replace the liturgy, which is the source and summit of all Christian worship (cf CCC 1324-1327).
A devotion as a form of popular piety expresses the religious sense of the faithful outside the liturgy from where are derived all forms of worship. Devotions promote faith and foster the relationship of the faithful with the object of devotion, which though itself is not the end but rather leads the devotee to God. It is associated with miraculous happenings through which the faithful are led to God. Some of the devotions in the Church include: the Holy rosary, the divine mercy of the virgin Mary, Eucharistic adoration, the precious blood of Jesus, the Sacred Heart, the Immaculate heart of Mary, devotions to different saints, to mention but a few.
The month of July is dedicated to the devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus. This devotion points to the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ through His passion and death. This is one of the devotions, which has a lot of scriptural references. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God points back to the Old Testament; blood of the lamb sprinkled on the doors of the Israelites on the night of liberation from slavery (as described in Exodus chapters 11 to 19). Even before this, the people of Israel offered sacrifices to God for different purposes like atonement for sin/guilt, peace
and thanksgiving. Some of these sacrifices entailed spilling blood of animals. Thus, the element of sacrifice of something in order to claim something from God was already present. The blood of Christ is the blood of liberation, the blood poured out as a libation, a price paid for our redemption from slavery to sin. The blood of Christ thence reconciles all humanity with God. It is a great reminder of the faithful and merciful love of God that unreservedly was shed in order to cleanse us from our sins.
The devotion to the precious blood of Christ though distinct, is inseparable from the Eucharist which is the body and blood of Christ. Due to the noble meaning and significance that it renders in the salvation of humanity, the blood of Christ is revered because God through Christ offers Himself for the redemption of humanity. Devotees often invoke to be covered in the precious blood of Jesus against evil.
It is the blood through who’s out pouring we have received life. Communion with Him in the Eucharist leads us to life, for Christ Himself says that whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life (cf John 6:53- 58). Yet it is also a reminder to the faithful to amend their life to live a life of sacrifice, to be cleansed and to be made pure constantly by the blood of Christ.
The prayer of St. Thommas Aquinas “…. blood of my saviour bathe me in thy tide, wash me with water flowing from thy side…” brings out the threefold purpose of this devotion that is; forgiveness, protection (redemption through the blood) and sanctification (through the water). There is the immensity of the love and mercy of God embedded in this devotion and it is worthy to be pondered by every believer.
Fr. Nicholas Onyait MCCJ
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