Month of the Precious Blood (Day 14)
July 14, 2024
Day 14
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. (Ephesians 2:13-16)
RESPONSORY
You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
-- For he is our peace, who has made both one.
So that he might create in himself one new humanity
-- For he is our peace, who has made both one.
From “Story of a Soul” by St. Thérèse of Lisieux (+1897)
One Sunday, closing my book at the end of Mass, a picture of Our Lord on the Cross half slipped out, showing only one of His Divine Hands, pierced and bleeding. I felt an indescribable thrill such as I had never felt before. My heart was torn with grief to see that Precious Blood falling to the ground, and no one caring to treasure It as It fell, and I resolved to remain continually in spirit at the foot of the Cross, that I might receive the Divine Dew of Salvation and pour it forth upon souls. From that day the cry of my dying Savior --"I thirst!"-- sounded incessantly in my heart, and kindled therein a burning zeal hitherto unknown to me. My one desire was to give my Beloved to drink; I felt myself consumed with thirst for souls, and I longed at any cost to snatch sinners from the everlasting flames of hell. Was it not when I saw the Precious Blood flowing from the Wounds of Jesus that the thirst for souls first took possession of me? I wished to give them to drink of the Blood of the Immaculate Lamb that It might wash away their stains…. I seemed to hear Our Lord whispering to me, as He did to the Samaritan woman: "Give me to drink!" It was indeed an exchange of love: upon souls I poured forth the Precious Blood of Jesus, and to Jesus I offered these souls refreshed with the Dew of Calvary. In this way I thought to quench His Thirst; but the more I gave Him to drink, so much the more did the thirst of my own poor soul increase, and I accepted it as the most delightful recompense.
Musical Selection
Collect
O God,
who made of one blood all races and nations of earth,
and sent your Son Jesus Christ
to preach peace to those who are far off
and to those who are near:
Pour out your Spirit on the whole creation,
bring the nations of the world into your fellowship,
and hasten the coming of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Worship)