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Offline Binechi

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July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
« on: July 03, 2017, 05:05:35 AM »
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    July 1st

    The Precious Blood--Its Name


    Why is the Blood of Jesus called the Precious Blood? Because it was the blood of God Himself, veiled under the form of man; and therefore every drop of it, flowing through His sacred veins, deserved our supreme homage, as being united to His Divinity. Hence we can adore the Precious Blood as we adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and all else that belongs to the Sacred Humanity, with that supreme homage that belongs to God alone.

    We also term it the Precious Blood, inasmuch as it was the Blood of One Who was not only full of grace, but was Himself the source of all grace. The grace that dwelt with Him was infinite, and the grace that manifested itself through the veil of His flesh had no bounds or limits, save those, that the mere fact of His Human Nature carried with it. If, therefore, the blood of the Saints is counted as most precious, if we treasure up a piece of cloth stained with their blood, how much more is the Blood of the King of Saints precious beyond all price?

    The Precious Blood is also precious on account of its effects. One drop of it is sufficient not only to cleanse the world from sin, but to earn all possible graces for all the millions who have ever lived on earth. How infinite then must be its preciousness! What has it not done for man? What has it not done for me? It has washed me clean and made me pure, in spite of all my sins. O Jesus, give me an ever-increasing devotion to the Precious Blood!

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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditation on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #1 on: July 03, 2017, 05:06:23 AM »
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    • July 2nd

    The Eternity of the Precious Blood


    St. Peter tells us (I Peter i. 20) that the Precious Blood of Christ was "foreknown before the foundations of the world." From all eternity God had decreed that the Precious Blood of the Word made Man should be shed for us. Before man had sinned. God had provided a remedy, and had determined that if man should rebel against the sovereignty of God, He would not cast the rebel off, but would redeem him from sin, even at such a price as this. How can we sufficiently admire the love and mercy of God, thus counteracting the effect of sin even before it was committed!

    God's foreknowledge of what was to happen did not affect the perfect freedom of the human will, any more than the presence of a spectator affects the freedom of those whose actions he watches. God determined that the Precious Blood should be shed because He foreknew that man would sin, and he foreknew that man would sin, because in His omniscience. He foresaw that man acting freely would use his freedom to disobey. Make an act of faith in man's freedom and God's foreknowledge.

    When God looks forward at my life what does he foresee? This depends on myself and on my voluntary choice of good or of evil. What return from me for the inestimable gift of the Precious Blood does He foresee? Am I going to grieve and wound Him, Who, from all eternity, decreed that His Precious Blood should be shed to win for me the Kingdom of Heaven?
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditation on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #2 on: July 03, 2017, 05:07:13 AM »
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    • July 3rd

    The Anticipation of the Precious Blood


    When the promise of the Redeemer to come was made to our first parents in the Garden of Eden after their fall, the shadow of the Precious Blood fell upon the world and reconciled it with God. The curse that had been incurred had lost its fatal power to destroy. The anger of God was appeased: He looked upon the earth through the medium of the Blood of His only-begotten Son, that was to be shed for sin, and for Its sake offered forgiveness and mercy to the sinners who repented of their sins. So may He extend to me the forgiveness and mercy, that I need far more than did Adam and Eve, for I have sinned far more deeply and more often than they.

    As the ages rolled on, the same shadow, sheltering men from God's fierce anger, still rested on the earth. In its sweet shade rested Abraham and all the Patriarchs, Samuel and all the Prophets; through its influence sinners found mercy and saints obtained graces innumerable. If it did so much for the heathen world, what must it not do for Catholic Christians? Grant, O Lord, that now and ever I may rest beneath the shadow of Him whom I have desired!

    All through the thousands of years before Christ came, the tradition of the necessity of the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins was almost universal. The Jєωιѕн sacrifices were expressly ordained to keep up the memory of it. In heathen countries the blood of victims was almost everywhere offered. God never leaves Himself without a witness even among those who have departed from Him. Admire His goodness in so doing.
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditation on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #3 on: July 04, 2017, 05:15:33 PM »
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    • July 4th

    Types of the Precious Blood

    (1) The Blood of Abel


    Abel was slain by his cruel brother Cain because God accepted Abel's sacrifice but did not accept that of Cain. Cain, filled with rage at the acceptance of his brother's offering, deliberately shed his innocent blood. The Jєωs, filled with rage at the exceeding holiness of Jesus' life, at the sweet attractiveness of His words, and the Divine beauty of His works of mercy, shed His Precious Blood. So the wicked are ever enraged against the good, and grudge them their favor with God.
    http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/July%204th.html

    The blood of Abel cried out to God for vengeance on his murderer. The Blood of Jesus, which speaketh better things than that of Abel, cries out to God for mercy on those who had outraged Him and put Him to death. Even while He hung on the Cross He prayed His Father to forgive them, and ever since, as long as the world shall last. His Blood still cries: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" O Jesus, may Thy Blood thus cry out for me!

    Yet, at the same time, it cries for vengeance on those who deliberately and wilfully reject Him. Long, indeed. He bears with them; long and patiently. Yet if in the end they spurn His Precious Blood, His very mercy will bring upon them a vengeance in proportion to His offer of love. O Jesus! may I never reject Thee or refuse Thy love and mercy!

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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditation on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #4 on: July 05, 2017, 01:05:49 PM »
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    • July 5th

    Types of the Precious Blood

    (2) The Blood of the Paschal Lamb


    On the night when God delivered His people from Egypt a lamb was slain, prefiguring the Lamb of God. It was to be a lamb without blemish, no bone of it was to be broken; it was to be wholly consumed by those in whose dwelling it was slain, and its blood was to be shed to the last drop. Apply these conditions of the Paschal Lamb to the Lamb of God, and see how perfectly they were fulfilled in the Sacrifice of the Cross.

    The blood of the Paschal Lamb was to be sprinkled on the doorposts of the Israelites; and thereby they were to be rendered safe from the judgment that fell upon the Egyptians. So the Precious Blood sprinkled upon our hearts saves us from the punishment we have justly deserved. It appeases the anger of God and marks us as belonging to Him, and as travellers to the Heavenly Jerusalem, longing to be freed from the bondage of earthly things.

    How is the Precious Blood sprinkled on our souls? In all the sacraments of the Church, in every act of contrition, in every deed of supernatural charity, in every prayer offered humbly and with confidence, it falls upon us, renders us safe from the avenging Angel, and secures us safe from the anger of God that our sins have justly merited. Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo et mundabor-- "Sprinkle me, O Lord, and I shall be rendered clean in Thy sight."


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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #5 on: July 06, 2017, 10:47:15 AM »
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    • July 6th

    Types of the Precious Blood

    (3) The Peace-Offering


    The Peace Offering was one of the chief sacrifices of the Old Law. It was an offering of gratitude for blessings received or of petition for blessings desired. So Jesus offered Himself upon the Cross, not only to obtain for us the blessings of eternal life, but also to render thanks to God for His mercy to man and make to Him the only possible return worthy of His Divine Majesty.

    The blood of the heifer sacrificed was shed as a necessary part of the sacrifice. "The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall pour the blood round about the altar" (Lev. i, II). There is no mark of our gratitude to God like willingness to suffer for Him. The blood is, as it were, the life, and the shedding of it corresponds, in the body, to the sacrifice of our will in the soul, which is the noblest sacrifice that man can make to God. Do I sacrifice my will to God's or is self-will still strong within me?

    Yhe blood was shed, moreover, as a means of obtaining fresh favors. Those who are anxious to gain great things from God, must make some sacrifice for His sake, and those who are most powerful with Him are those who give up their will to His. Christ in His Sacred Humanity is all-powerful with God, because in the head of the book it is written of Him, that He should fulfil the will of God and He was content to do it. Do I deserve such influence with Him?
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #6 on: July 07, 2017, 11:47:15 AM »
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    July 7th

    Types of the Precious Blood

    (4) The Offerings for Sins of Ignorance


    In the Book of Leviticus (ch. iv.) an elaborate ritual is prescribed in expiation of sins committed through ignorance. A calf is to be offered and the ancients of the people are to lay their hands upon its head, and the priest is to carry some of its blood into the tabernacle of the testimony, to sprinkle it seven time before the veil and to pour forth the blood at the foot of the altar. All this is in expiation for sins committed by those who at the time knew not that they were sins! What a proof of God's hatred of sin, even though he who did the act was not, at the time, aware that it was a sin!

    Yet such ignorance is rarely altogether without some fault. Sometimes there is at least some faint suspicion that the deed done is displeasing to God, sometimes the ignorance is itself the result of sin blinding the soul and dulling the perceptions, sometimes it is the consequence of obstinacy and self-will. I may have committed many sins through ignorance; were they altogether without fault?

    Those sins had to be atoned for with blood, and that blood was a type of the Blood of Jesus. He, therefore, shed His Precious Blood for my sins of ignorance, as well as sins of malice, and whatever guilt was in them added to His sacred sufferings. I must then compassionate Him for all that He suffered for the countless sins that men have committed against God through ignorance, and especially for my own countless sins.

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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #7 on: July 08, 2017, 07:00:57 PM »
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    • July 8th

    Types of the Precious Blood

    (5) The h0Ɩ0cαųst


    The h0Ɩ0cαųst, or whole burnt-offering, might be an ox or sheep or pigeon or turtle-dove, according to the abilities of him who offered it. Its blood was to be shed, and the whole body was afterwards to be burnt upon the altar. So Christ offered Himself a h0Ɩ0cαųst to God; there was no part of His human nature that was not sacrificed for the sins of men. All the faculties of His Soul, every thought and wish and inclination, every nerve and fibre in His Body, all were offered to God and consecrated to Him. Try to realize the extent of this sacrifice.

    In this offering Christ left us an example. If we are really to tread in His footsteps, a partial offering is not enough. As long as we keep anything for ourselves and deny it to God, there is rapine in our h0Ɩ0cαųst--that is, we keep back part of what we profess to sacrifice entirely to God, and such an offering cannot be acceptable. Is there anything which I consciously still keep back from God?

    First of all the blood of the h0Ɩ0cαųst was to be shed; and the blood, as we read in Holy Scripture, signifies the life. We must therefore dedicate our lives to God before we can belong wholly to Him. Hence the virtue of religious vows. If we are not called to these, at least we are called to make the service of God the end and aim of our daily life. Is this the character of my life?
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #8 on: July 09, 2017, 01:29:35 PM »
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    • July 9th

    The Precious Blood in Its Earthly Origin


    The Precious Blood of Jesus, flowing through His veins while an infant in His Holy Mother's womb, was derived from Mary. He lived with her life. She furnished from her immaculate body the Precious Blood that Jesus shed for us. How close must have been the union of Jesus and Mary! Can we wonder at her surpassing holiness, when she not only carried her God within her womb, but furnished the very Body with which His Humanity clothed itself!

    We also find in this thought a fresh proof of Mary's unblemished purity. It is repugnant to our reverence for the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity to imagine Him dwelling in a womb that had ever been defiled with sin, and much more to suppose that the Precious Blood which flowed in His veins and was the price of our redemption did not come from a source as pure as God could make it. Make an act of faith in the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and thank God for that privilege conferred on her.

    We must also remember that Jesus' Blood was wholly that of Mary. It was not as in the case of other children who have an earthly father. The Body of Jesus was formed in Mary's womb by the operation of the Holy Ghost, and naturally Jesus was altogether hers. In Heaven, the Body that Jesus has is still the Body derived from Mary, and their union is now closer than ever. In Holy Communion, Jesus is altogether ours. Do we conform ourselves to Him as Mary did?
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    Offline songbird

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #9 on: July 09, 2017, 05:43:27 PM »
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    • Thank you for your post.  I believe that the feast of the Precious Blood needs much emphasis!  It is Most Powerful for Our Salvation and it is Our Lady that brought Him into the World with the Most Precious Blood.

    I hate to say, that in our traditional chapel, The Most Precious Blood feast was a Mass, and then nothing else.  It needs a Sunday homily, I feel.  The Mysteries of the Precious Blood, needs more understanding, that the Blood is in all the sacraments; says Fr. Faber.

    I understand, that when New Order and Vatican II came along, it was the feast of the Precious Blood that was one of the first days to be removed from the N. O. calendar.

    We had the Confraternity of the Precious Blood here in the USA and Canada.  There was a seminary, St. Charles, in Carthegena, OH.  Was, for only retired live there.  Destroyed by New Order.  My Great-great uncle Fr. Rudolph Stoltz was ordained for this Order in 1907.  As many as 100-150 students went through this seminary, in a year.  These priests were known as the Sons of Gaspar, the Saint and founder.  The priest were much loved.  When on would take on a parish and leave, the parish wanted another Son of Gaspar to continue in their parish.

    Chapter 12 of Daniel, referred to the apostles by Christ, states the the "continual sacrifice" will come to an end.  The Remptorists priest spoke of this in their books.  Cardinal Manning, in his writings spoke for the Precious Blood, in Chapter 12 of Daniel.

    I see this as very important to us in these times. Not only did Cardinal Manning speak of this power to fade away, but also that of the Power of the Vicar of Christ.  These 2 powers gone.  The True Precious Blood is so important, that even a saint said, it would be better to have no Sun, then to have no Precious Blood/Sacrifice of the Mass.

    The enemy knows to these powers, or they would not have worked so hard to destroy them.  Pray that you may die with the Precious Blood!
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #10 on: July 10, 2017, 02:55:17 PM »
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    July 10th

    The Precious Blood on Calvary


    In old pictures and engravings ot the Crucifixion we often see Angels holding a chalice to catch the drops of the Precious Blood as they fell from the sacred wounds in the hands and feet of Jesus. It is also said that the angels collected all the Blood that our Lord had shed during his passion that not a drop might be lost. How they must have counted each drop as a treasure of infinite value! What were all the treasures of earth compared with these drops, instinct with the God- head of Jesus! Pray that you may scorn all earthly things in comparison with the Precious Blood of Jesus.

    The Angels not only treasure up the Precious Blood, but they pay to each drop their supreme homage. So we kneel and adore the Precious Blood in the chalice upon the altar. In each drop Christ is present whole and undivided. Make an act of faith in this wondrous miracle, and pray that you may adore with a reverent homage like that of the Angels present at the Crucifixion.

    As the three hours advance, the Body of Jesus is more and more drained of the Precious Blood. Hence follows a thirst so agonizing that it forced from the lips of Jesus the cry, "I thirst" When our lips are parched and dry in sickness or in the agony of death, may we remember Thee, O Lord, and Thy Sacred Thirst, endured for us, and may we offer up our sufferings in union with Thy unspeakable and agonizing thirst upon the Cross!
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #11 on: July 11, 2017, 12:40:32 PM »
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    • July 11th

    The Universality of the Precious Blood


    It is of faith, that Christ died, not only for the elect, but for all. There was no single individual member of the whole race of men who did not enjoy the privilege of being redeemed by Christ, not the most degraded of the heathen, not the most ignorant or the most hardened in sin. The Precious Blood was sprinkled on all, and if they did not avail themselves of its benefits it was their own fault. None will incur the eternal misery of Hell who has not deliberately rejected the forgiveness that the Precious Blood won for us.

    What about the innocent child who dies without Baptism? For it, too the Precious Blood was shed: and if it does not attain to eternal happiness in Heaven, this is owing to the wilful sin of man, and not to any lack of efficacy in the Blood of Jesus. Such a child will at least enjoy great natural happiness for all eternity (in Limbo). He, Who shed His Precious Blood for all, is not unmindful of those who, through no fault of their own, fail of attaining the joy of the Beatific Vision.

    Does the Precious Blood do anything for sinners who have rejected it? Yes, for though their rejection of it excludes them from all right to share in the blessings it won for man, and has deserved for them eternal punishment, yet their punishment, terrible as it will be, will nevertheless be in some way short of what they deserved, and this through the merits of the Precious Blood. Thank God for His infinite mercy, and pray that you may never forfeit any of the graces won for you.
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #12 on: July 12, 2017, 09:08:13 AM »
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    • July 12th

    The Victories of the Precious Blood


    The Precious Blood has conquered sin and Satan. It was the shedding of it on the Cross which gave the death-blow to the kingdom of the devil. It was when the Son of God had, by the loss of His Sacred Blood, been reduced to the extremity of weakness and of misery, and brought down to the very gates of death, that He triumphed over the tyrant that had enslaved the world, and compelled all the rebel angels to bow the knee before His Sacred Humanity. Rejoice with your victorious King, and pray that you may deserve to share His triumph.

    The Precious Blood has also conquered sinners by thousands, who, if it had not been shed, would have remained hardened sinners unto the end. Who can withstand Its silent appeal, as It trickles down from His Head, His Hands, His Feet? Who can refuse to listen to Its silent pleadings? Who can turn away from Him Who has thus loved us even unto death? O my Jesus, may I never turn away from Thy voice calling me from Thy Throne upon the Cross to love Thee and obey Thy voice.

    The Precious Blood has also conquered and averted the anger of God, Whose decree of just retribution would, but for It, have fallen upon sinners. Can the Father resist the pleadings of His coequal Son, when He holds out His Hands, still marked with the scars of His sacred wounds, and asks for mercy and forgiveness for the sinner? May Thy wounds, O Jesus, plead for me now and at the hour of death!
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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #13 on: July 13, 2017, 12:14:45 PM »
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    • July 13th

    The Conquest of the Precious Blood


    Victory, without conquest, is but of little avail to one who invades the territory of the foe. Our Lord came not only to subdue His enemies, but to obtain for Himself a kingdom. By the shedding of His Precious Blood, the kingdoms of this world became the kingdoms of our Lord, and He shall reign for ever and ever. The Blood of Jesus sinking into the ground gave to this earth a new life. The curse had departed, the new era had begun, which shall culminate in the new Heaven and the new earth, wherein dwelleth justice. Pray that the King may soon come to take possession of this kingdom.

    The shedding of the Precious Blood also won for Christ our King not only a new territory, but a multitude of new subjects. If the material world was sanctified by the Precious Blood, how much more those who dwelt upon it! What must be the joy of Jesus to look down on countries still faithful to Him amidst trials and persecutions. Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Catholic Austria, many parts of France and Italy, covered with multitudes subdued and held in joyful captivity by the Precious Blood. Rejoice in the wide spread of the Faith, and pray that it may spread more and more.

    Above all, the Precious Blood has subdued to the yoke of Christ priests innumerable, monks, nuns, saints in the world and in religion, all rejoicing to be the very bond-slaves of the Precious Blood. Their chief calls himself the Servant of the Servants of God. Pray that you may rejoice to be a willing slave of Jesus Christ.

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    Offline Binechi

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    Re: July Meditations on The Most Precious Blood
    « Reply #14 on: July 14, 2017, 09:38:38 AM »
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    July 14th

    Sanctification by the Precious Blood


    The Precious Blood does more than wash away the sins of men and restore them to friendship with God. This is but the commencement of its work of love and mercy. It has in it unlimited power to carry them on to the heights of sanctity, to engender in them every virtue, to implant in their souls all the gifts of the Holy Ghost. So we read in the Apocalypse that the Lamb of God has not only washed us from our sins in His own Blood, but also made us to be kings and priests to God. Through the Precious Blood, then, are bestowed on me not only cleanness from my past sins, but graces to make me beautiful in the sight of God.

    How does the Precious Blood win these graces for us? It appeals to the love of God, and reminds Him that, as He has given us the surpassing gift of His own Son to be sacrificed for us. He must with Him also freely give us all things. In that one gift all else is contained, and we have a sort of claim to whatever we want from the hands of God.

    The Precious Blood of Christ also obtains our sanctification by the merits that it won for us. Each drop that was shed was enough, and more than enough, to purchase graces without limit or end. All the actions of our Lord had an infinite value by reason of His infinite dignity. How much more the shedding of that Blood, which, in itself, calls for the highest adoration, inasmuch as It was the Blood of God Himself, and He had communicated to It the glory of His Divinity by reason of the Hypostatic Union.
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