Steve Ray’s Notes on the Precious Blood

Precious Blood: Month of July
A. Origins of the Precious Blood Devotion
1. Bible
2. Fathers of the Church
3. Pius IX and Current Times
B. Old Testament and Typology of the Sacred Blood
1. Importance in Old Testament
2. Typology and Prefigurement
C. Sacred Blood and Blessed Sacrament in New Testament
D. Sacred Blood in Heaven and in Book of Revelation
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We a bunch of morbid folks talking about blood all the time —
drinking it and eating flesh?
We must understand cultural and historical context of the
ancient world and the nation of Israel
A. Origins of the Devotion to the Precious Blood
1. Bible
• 1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a
participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we
break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
• Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have
been brought near in the blood of Christ.
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• Hebrews 9:14
…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish
to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God.
• 1 Peter 1:19
…but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a
lamb without blemish or spot.
2. Fathers of the Church
• Pope St. Clement I, (60-96 AD) “Let us fix our gaze on the
Blood of Christ and realize how truly precious It is, seeing
that it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace
of conversion to the whole world.”
• Pope St. Clement I, “For the sake of the love which he had
for us did Jesus Christ our Lord, by the will of God, give His
blood for us, His flesh for our flesh, and His life for our lives.”
• Justin Martyr (c. 100–c. 165) “We been taught that the food
which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which
our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the
flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.
• St. Basil the Great (330-379) “It was given as the ransom
price for our souls, the holy and most precious blood of our
Lord Jesus Christ, which He poured out for all of us; we were,
therefore, “bought dearly .”
• St. Ambrose: “We have been redeemed not by perishable
things, not by silver and gold, but by the precious blood of our
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Lord Jesus Christ .… The price of our gaining freedom was
the blood of the Lord Jesus, which was necessarily paid out.”
• The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the
pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were
brought forth through His Blood.
3. Current Times and Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX: Instituted the feast of the Precious Blood of our
Lord in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity.
• Pope Pius IX was in exile from Rome in 1849
• His saintly friend Fr. Don Giovanni Merlin suggested the
pope make a vow to give the feast of the Precious Blood to
the entire church
• If he should regain the papal territory.
• Without binding himself by the vow, the pope immediately
extended the feast to the whole Church.
• On the old calendar it was celebrated on July 1, but
Catholics continue this tradition by increasing their devotion
to the most precious Blood throughout the entire month of
July
B. Old Testament Passages and Typology
1. Importance in Old Testament
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1. Word “blood” used over 450 times in the Bible
2. Primary View of Blood
• Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it
for you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls;
for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the
life.
• Leviticus 17:14
For the life of every creature is the blood of it; therefore
I have said to the sons of Israel, You shall not eat the
blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its
blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.
• CCC 2260c
“The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred
sign of life. This teaching remains necessary for all time.”
2. Typology / Prefigurement in Old Testament (2 Examples)
1. Blood of Christ gives birth to the Church (Garden of Eden)
• Blood and Water from side of Christ (Longinus)
• Looks back to Adam and Eve in the Garden
2. Passover Lamb’s blood on doorframe of wood
• 1 Corinthians 5:7 “For Christ our Passover also has been
sacrificed.”
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• Blood of the NEW Passover Lamb also on the beams of wood
• Exodus 12:7-8 “Then they shall take some of the blood and
put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in
which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted
on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall
eat it.
C. New Testament Passages
• When did Jesus first spill his blood for us?
• Circumcision, Gethsemane, Antonia Fortress, then all the
blood on the Cross
• Blood of bulls and new covenant of Christ’s Blood
• Hebrews 9:11-12 “But when Christ appeared as a high
priest of the good things to come, He entered through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this creation and not through the blood
of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered
the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal
redemption.”
• 1 Cor 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after
supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my
blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
me.”
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• Exodus 24:5-8: “Moses … sacrificed oxen to the Lord. …
Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half
of the blood he threw against the altar. … And Moses took
the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold
the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you
in accordance with all these words.”
• 1 Peter 1:18-19: “You were ransomed … not with
perishable things such as silver or gold, …but with the
precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without
blemish or spot.
• Demonstrates the horrendous of sin.
Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man
shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own
image.
1 John 1:7 “and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son,
cleanses us from all sin.”
E. Sacred Blood in Heaven and in Book of Revelation
• “Blood” is used 19 times in the book of Revelation
• Jesus is referred to as “Lamb” 30 times
• Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him because of the
blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony,
and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
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• Revelation 7:14: “I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he
said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great
tribulation, and they
have washed their
robes and made them
white in the blood of
the Lamb.”
• Revelation 5:6: “And I
saw between the
throne…and the
elders a Lamb
standing, as if slain…”
(John 1:29)
Heaven’s finale
• Holy Church transports us to the end. The heavenly liturgy is
in progress. Upon the altar is the Lamb, slain yet alive,
crimsoned by His own Blood. Round about stand the
countless army of the redeemed in garments washed white in
the Blood of the Lamb. Hosts of the blessed are singing the
new canticle of redemption: “You have redeemed us out of
every tribe and tongue and nation by Your Blood.”
• Protestant Hymn “What can wash away my sin nothing but
the blood of Jesus…”
• We have the blood!
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