Our beautiful Church has a myriad of ways to remind us of Christ throughout the year. One of these is through the tradition of monthly devotions. The month of July is especially close to my heart. This month’s devotion is to the Most Precious Blood.

To non-Catholics — and perhaps to some Catholics as well — this devotion is slightly grisly sounding. I mean, isn’t focusing on Christ’s blood a little too macabre? And why would we call something so…well, bloody…precious?

To start, let’s define what exactly Catholics mean when they talk about “devotions.”

What is a Devotion?

A devotion in the Catholic Church is, at its core, an aid for prayer. Devotions are optional practices, generally rooted in tradition, that seek to draw the practitioner closer to God. Some examples of popular devotions would include the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the veneration of relics, or the Angelus. Where sacraments give the Church life, devotions give it character, flavor, and culture.

According to the USCCB, “Popular devotional practices play a crucial role in helping to foster ceaseless prayer. Properly used, popular devotional practices do not replace the liturgical life of the Church; rather, they extend it into daily life.”

Devotion to the Most Precious Blood

Devotion to the Most Precious Blood dates back to early Christianity and originates from the cross itself. The devotion seeks to honor and consider the sacrifice that Christ made for us, both in his death on the cross and in the spilling of his blood during his brutal treatment in the hours before the crucifixion. This devotion is beautiful because it reminds us not only of Christ’s sanctity, but of his humanity. The blood that coursed through Jesus’s veins reminds us that he was not only fully God, but fully human as well. The Church teaches that it is ultimately the pouring out of this blood by which we are saved.

In 1849, Pope Pius IX instituted the Feast of the Most Precious Blood, which took place on July 1st. After a revision of the Roman Calendar in 1969, the feast day was eliminated because it was deemed unnecessary since Corpus Christi — another Catholic feast day — already celebrated both the body and blood of Christ. The dedication of the month of July to the Precious Blood, however, remained.

There are many different ways to practice this devotion. If you are looking for something simple, you can easily find several dozen prayers online. These prayers range from long to short and sweet. One of my favorites was written by St. Catherine of Siena (above). Try taking one of these to prayer with you and meditate on the words. If you are looking for something a little more involved, there is a booklet dedicated to the devotion that is worth checking out. There is also a Precious Blood chaplet.

Perhaps most powerfully, you can practice this devotion simply by being present and aware when you are receiving the Eucharist at Mass. The next time you lift the chalice to your lips, take the time to say a silent prayer of thanks. And the next time you hear the priest speak of the blood that “will be poured out for you and for many,” take a moment to reflect upon not only Christ’s divinity, but on his humanity as well. Remember the human person that suffered and that died.

And remember that he did it for you.