Musings of an Old Curmudgeon: The Raccolta - Section VII

10 April 2023

The Raccolta - Section VII - Precious Blood

35. CHAPLET.

Pope Pius VII., in order to inflame the hearts of the faithful with devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, wherewith we were redeemed, granted by two Rescripts, one of May 31, 1809, kept in the acts of the Congregation of Rites, the other of Oct. 18, 1815, in the Archivium of the Archconfraternity of the Precious Blood, erected at St. Nicholas in Carcer, here in Rome -
i. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines, once a day, to all who shall say with devotion the Chaplet in honour of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
ii. A plenary indulgence, once a month, to all who, having said it every day for a month, shall Confess and Communicate, and pray for the holy Church, &c.
iii. Three hundred days indulgence, daily, to all who say the prayer, "Most Precious Blood, &c.," for which see below.

This Chaplet is composed of seven Mysteries, in which we meditate upon the seven times in which Jesus Christ for love of us shed blood from His most innocent Body; at each Mystery, except the last, we are to say five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri; and at the last, three Pater noster's only and one Gloria Patri; thus making up the number of thirty-three Pater noster's in remembrance of the thirty-three years during which the Precious Blood of Jesus flowed in His veins, before it was all poured out for our salvation. The Chaplet ends with the devout prayer, "Most Precious Blood, &c."

THE CHAPLET.

V. Deus in adjutorium meum intende.
R. Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.
V. Gloria Patri, &c.
R. Sicut erat, &c.

FIRST MYSTERY.

The first time our loving Saviour shed His Precious Blood for its was on the eighth day after His birth, when He was circumcised in order to accomplish the law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that Jesus did this to satisfy the justice of God for our dissolute lives, let us excite ourselves to true sorrow for them, and promise, with the help of his all-powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul.

Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.

V. Te ergo quaesumus tuis famulis subveni, quos pretioso Sanguine redemisti.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.

SECOND MYSTERY.

Next, in the Garden of Olives, Jesus shed His Blood for us in such quantity that it bathed the earth around. Thus took place at the sight of the ingratitude with which men would meet His love. O, let us, then, repent sincerely because we have hitherto corresponded so ill with the innumerable benefits of our God, and resolve to make good use of His graces and holy inspirations.

Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.

V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.

THIRD MYSTERY.

Next, in His cruel scourging, Jesus shed His Blood, when His flesh was so torn that rivers of Blood flowed from His body in every part, all of which He offered all the time to His Eternal Father in payment of our impatience and our delicacy. How is it, then, we do not curb our anger and our self-love? Henceforth we will indeed try our very best to bear our troubles well, and, despising ourselves, to take peacefully the injuries which men may do us.

Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.

V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.

FOURTH MYSTERY.

Again, from the sacred Head of Jesus Blood poured down when it was crowned with thorns, in punishment of our pride and evil thoughts. Shall we, then, continue to nurture haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and feed the wayward will in our minds? Henceforth let there be ever before our eyes our utter nothingness, our misery, and our weakness; and with generous hearts let its resist all the wicked suggestions of the devil.

Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.

V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.

FIFTH MYSTERY.

But O! how much of His Precious Blood did our loving Lord pour forth from His veins when laden with the heavy wood of the cross. He made His mournful way to Calvary, so that the streets and ways of Jerusalem, through which He passed, were watered with it! this was done in satisfaction for the scandals and the bad examples by which His own creatures had led others astray on the way to ruin. Who can tell how many of us are of this unhappy number? Who knows how many he himself alone has by his own bad example brought down to hell? And have we done anything to remedy this evil? L et us henceforth at least endeavour all we can to save souls by word and by example, making ourselves a pattern to all of good and holy life.

Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.

V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.

SIXTH MYSTERY.

Still more copiously the Redeemer of mankind shed Blood in His barbarous Crucifixion; when His veins being rent and arteries burst, there gushed forth in a torrent, from His hands and His feet, that saving balm of life eternal, to pay for all the crimes and enormities of the universe. Who ever after this would continue in sin, and so renew the cruel crucifixion of the Son of God? Let us weep bitterly for our bad deeds, and let us detest them at the feet of the sacred minister of God; let us amend our evil ways, and henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the thought ever in our hearts of all the Blood which our eternal salvation cost the Saviour of men.

Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.

V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.

SEVENTH MYSTERY.

Last of all, after His death, when His sacred Side was opened by the lance and His loving Heart was wounded, Jesus shed Blood, and with the Blood there came forth water, to show us how the Blood was all poured out to the last drop for our salvation. O the infinite goodness of our Redeemer! Who will not love Thee, my Saviour? What heart will not consume itself away for love of Thee, who hast done all this for our redemption? The tongue wants words to praise Thee: let us, then, invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and all saints in Paradise, and, most of all, our dear Mother Mary, to bless, to praise, and to celebrate Thy most Precious Blood. Glory to the Blood of Jesus! Glory to the Blood of Jesus now and ever throughout all ages. Amen.

At this last Mystery three Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri are to be said, to make up the number of thirty-three.

V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.

Then say the following

PRAYER.

Most Precious Blood of life eternal! price and ransom of the whole universe! drink and bath of the soul! ever pleading the cause of man before the throne of heavenly Mercy; I adore Thee most profoundly: I would, if I were able, make Thee some compensation for the outrages and wrongs Thou dost ever suffer from men, and especially from those who in their rashness dare to blaspheme Thee. Who will not bless this Blood of value infinite? who does not feel himself inflamed with the love of Jesus, who shed it all for us? What should I be but for this Blood, which hath redeemed me? And who drew it out of the veins of my Lord, even unto the last drop? It was love. O immense love, which gave to us this saving Balsam! O Balsam beyond all price, streaming forth from the Fount of immeasurable love! Give to all hearts, all tongues, power to praise, celebrate, and thank Thee, now and ever, and throughout all eternity. Amen.

V. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo.
R. Et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum.

Oremus.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui Unigenitum Filium tuum mundi Redemptorem constituisti, ac ejus Sanguine placari voluisti: concede nobis, quaesumus, salutis nostrae pretium ita venerari, atque praesentis vitae malis ejus virtute defendi in terris, ut fructu perpetuo laetemur in coelis. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate, &c. Amen.

TRANSLATION.

V. Then hast redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy Blood.
R. And hast made us a kingdom to our God.

Let us pray.
Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of the world, and hast willed to be appeased with His Blood; grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate this Blood, the price of our salvation, and so to be defended by its power upon earth from the evils of this present life, that in heaven we may enjoy its everlasting fruit. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

36. SEVEN OFFERINGS, WITH SEVEN "GLORIA PATRI'S."

Pope Pius VII., of holy memory, by a Rescript of the Segretaria of the Memorials of Sept. 22, 1817, kept in the Archivium of the Archconfraternity of the Precious Blood, granted -
i. An indulgence of 300 days to all the faithful who, with contrite hearts, shall make to the Eternal Father the following offerings of the Precious Blood of His well-beloved Son Jesus Christ, together with seven Gloria Patri's, and an ejaculation with the intention of making thereby a compensation for all the outrages which are done to the Precious Blood, which is the price and ransom of our souls.
ii. A plenary indulgence to all who say them for a month together, on any one day, once in the month, when, after Confession and Communion, they shall pray according to the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

THE OFFERINGS.

I. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for the propagation and exaltation of my dear Mother Thy holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of her visible head, our chief pastor the Bishop of Rome; for the cardinals, bishops, and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.

Then say one Gloria Patri, and the ejaculation,

Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with His Blood.

II. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for the peace and concord of Catholic kings and princes, for the humiliation of the enemies of our Holy Faith, and for the welfare of all Christian people.

One Gloria Patri, and Blessed and praised, &c.

III. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for the repentance of unbelievers, the uprooting of heresy, and the conversion of sinners.