First 5 Saturday July Devotion

May Thy Blood, O Lord, be Our salvation.

Eternal Father! We offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus in satisfaction for our sins, and in supplication for the holy souls in purgatory and for the wants of holy Church.

 

July Catholic Devotion Overview

July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus, a significant aspect of Catholic faith that emphasizes reflection, gratitude, and adoration for Christ's sacrifice. This month serves as a reminder of the blood shed during His passion and crucifixion, which is central to the salvation of humanity.

Importance of the Precious Blood

The devotion to the Precious Blood highlights its role in the redemption of mankind. It encourages the faithful to meditate on the significance of Christ's sacrifice and to express deep gratitude for the salvation it brings. This devotion has historical roots, with its formal recognition dating back to Pope Pius IX, who instituted the Feast of the Most Precious Blood in July 1849 during a time of conflict, seeking divine intervention; but the devotion is as old as Christianity. 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.

"The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on the cross and re-assumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it."

Devotion to the Precious Blood is not a spiritual option, it is a spiritual obligation, not only for priests, but for every follower of Christ. To understand the meaning of the Precious Blood we must get some comprehension of the gravity of sin, of the awfulness of offending God, because it required the Blood of the Son of God to forgive that sin.   

Key Feast Days in July

Several important feast days are celebrated throughout July, each honoring different saints and aspects of faith. Here are some notable dates:

Date	Feast Day	Description
July 1	Feast of the Most Precious Blood	Celebrates the blood of Christ and its significance in salvation.
July 3	Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle	Honors the disciple who recognized Jesus as Lord after touching His wounds.
July 6	Feast of St. Maria Goretti	Commemorates the martyr who died for her faith at a young age.
July 22	Feast of St. Mary Magdalene	Recognizes her devotion to Christ and her role as the first witness of the Resurrection.
July 23	Feast of St. Bridget of Sweden	Celebrates the mystic known for her deep devotion to Christ's passion.

Practices for the Month

During July, Catholics are encouraged to engage in specific practices to deepen their devotion:

• Daily Prayers: Incorporate prayers related to the Precious Blood into daily routines.
• Reflection: Spend time meditating on the significance of Christ's sacrifice.
• Participation in Mass: Attend Mass regularly, focusing on the Eucharist as the body and blood of Christ.

This month serves as a profound opportunity for Catholics to grow in their faith and appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus. The specific practices for the July devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus include praying the Chaplet of the Precious Blood, the Litany of the Precious Blood, and participating in the Novena of the Precious Blood. Additionally, it is encouraged to incorporate prayers that honor the Precious Blood into daily routines and to attend special Liturgies focused on this devotion. 

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, You became Man in order by your Passion and Death and the draining of your Blood on the Cross, might prove to us how much You, our God, love us. Protect us, dear Jesus, from ever running away from the sight of blood. Strengthen our weak human wills so that we will not only not run away from the cross, but welcome every opportunity to shed our blood in spirit in union with your Precious Blood, so that, dying to ourselves in time we might live with You in Eternity. Amen 

Holy Rosary 

Prayer After Rosary 

Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by His Blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. (Amen.)  

As Our Lady requested, please keep her company for 15 minutes while silently meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.  

15 Minutes of Silent Prayer With Our Blessed Mother   

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Oh Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth and tender Mother of men, in accordance with Thy ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to Thy Immaculate Heart myself, my brethren, my country and the whole human race. 

Reign over us, Most Holy Mother of God, and teach us how to make the Heart of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ reign and triumph in us even as it has reigned and triumphed in Thee. 

Reign over us, Most Blessed Virgin, that we may be Thine in prosperity and in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in life and in death. 

O most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven, watch over our minds and hearts and preserve them from the impurity which Thou didst lament so sorrowfully at Fatima. Assist us in imitating you in all things, especially purity. Help us to call down upon our country and upon the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity.

Therefore, Most Gracious Virgin and Mother, I hereby promise to imitate Thy virtues by the practice of a true Christian life without regard to human respect. I resolve to receive Holy Communion regularly and to offer to Thee five decades of the Rosary each day, together with my sacrifices, in the spirit of reparation and penance. Amen.