Pope Pius VII., in order to inflame the hearts of the faithful with devotion to the Precious
Blood of Jesus Christ, wherewith we were redeemed, granted by two Rescripts, one of May 31, 1809, kept in the acts of the Congregation of Rites, the other of Oct. 18, 1815, in the
Archivium of the Archconfraternity of the Precious Blood, erected at St. Nicholas in
Carcer, here in
Rome -
i. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines, once a day, to all who shall say
with devotion the Chaplet in
honour of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
ii. A plenary indulgence, once a month, to all who, having said it every day for a
month, shall Confess and Communicate, and pray for the holy Church, &c.
iii. Three hundred days indulgence, daily, to all who say the prayer, "Most Precious Blood,
&c.," for which see below.
This Chaplet is composed of seven Mysteries, in which we meditate upon the seven times in which Jesus Christ for love of us shed blood from His most innocent Body; at each Mystery, except the last, we are to say five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri; and at the last, three Pater noster's only and one Gloria Patri; thus making up the number of thirty-three Pater noster's in remembrance of the thirty-three years during which the Precious Blood of Jesus flowed in His veins, before it was all poured out for our salvation. The Chaplet ends with the devout prayer, "Most Precious Blood, &c."
THE CHAPLET.
V. Deus in adjutorium meum intende.
R. Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.
V. Gloria Patri, &c.
R. Sicut erat, &c.
FIRST MYSTERY.
The first time our loving Saviour shed His Precious Blood for its was on the eighth day after His birth, when He was circumcised in order to accomplish the law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that Jesus did
this to satisfy the justice of God for our dissolute lives, let us excite ourselves to true sorrow for
them, and promise, with the help of his all-powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul.
Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.
V. Te ergo quaesumus tuis famulis subveni, quos pretioso Sanguine redemisti.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
SECOND MYSTERY.
Next, in the Garden of Olives, Jesus shed His Blood for us in such quantity
that it bathed the earth around. Thus took place at the sight of the ingratitude with which men would meet
His love.
O, let us, then, repent sincerely because we have hitherto corresponded so ill with the
innumerable benefits of our God, and resolve to make good use of His graces and holy inspirations.
Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.
V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.
THIRD MYSTERY.
Next, in His cruel scourging, Jesus shed His Blood, when His flesh was so torn that rivers of Blood flowed
from His
body in every part, all of which He offered all the time to His Eternal Father in payment of our impatience and our delicacy. How is it, then, we do not curb our anger and our
self-love? Henceforth we will indeed try our very best to bear
our troubles well, and, despising ourselves, to take peacefully the injuries which
men may do us.
Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.
V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.
FOURTH MYSTERY.
Again, from the sacred Head of Jesus Blood poured down when it was crowned with thorns, in punishment of our pride and evil
thoughts. Shall we, then, continue to nurture haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and feed the wayward
will in our minds? Henceforth let there be ever before our eyes our utter
nothingness, our misery, and our weakness; and with generous hearts let its resist all the wicked suggestions of
the devil.
Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.
V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.
FIFTH MYSTERY.
But O! how much of His Precious Blood did our loving Lord pour forth from His veins when laden with the heavy
wood of the cross. He made His mournful way to Calvary, so that the streets and ways of
Jerusalem, through which He passed, were watered with it! this was done in
satisfaction for the scandals and the bad examples by which His own creatures had led others astray on the way to ruin.
Who can tell how many of
us are of this unhappy number? Who knows how many he himself alone has by his own bad example brought down to hell?
And have we done anything to remedy this evil? L et us
henceforth at least endeavour all we can to save souls by word and by example, making ourselves a pattern
to all of good and holy life.
Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.
V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.
SIXTH MYSTERY.
Still more copiously the Redeemer of mankind shed Blood in His barbarous Crucifixion; when His veins being rent and arteries burst, there gushed forth in a torrent, from His hands and His feet, that saving balm
of life eternal, to pay for all the crimes and enormities of the universe. Who ever after
this would continue in sin, and so renew the cruel crucifixion of the Son of God?
Let us weep bitterly for our bad deeds, and let us detest them at the feet of the sacred minister of God; let us amend our evil ways, and
henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the thought ever in our hearts of
all the
Blood which our eternal salvation cost the Saviour of men.
Five Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri.
V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.
SEVENTH MYSTERY.
Last of all, after His death, when His sacred Side was opened by the lance and His
loving Heart was wounded, Jesus shed Blood, and with the Blood there came forth water,
to show us how the Blood was all poured out to the last drop for our salvation.
O the infinite goodness of our Redeemer! Who will not love Thee, my Saviour?
What heart will not consume itself away for love of Thee, who hast
done all this for our redemption? The tongue wants words to praise Thee: let us, then, invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and all saints in Paradise, and, most of all, our dear Mother Mary, to bless, to praise, and to celebrate
Thy most Precious Blood. Glory to the Blood of Jesus! Glory to the Blood of Jesus now and ever throughout all ages.
Amen.
At this last Mystery three Pater noster's and one Gloria Patri are
to be said, to make up the number of thirty-three.
V. Te ergo quaesumus, &c.
Then say the following
PRAYER.
Most Precious Blood of life eternal! price and ransom of the whole universe! drink and bath of the soul! ever pleading
the cause of man before the throne of heavenly Mercy; I adore Thee most profoundly: I would, if I were able, make Thee some compensation for the outrages
and wrongs Thou dost ever suffer from men, and especially from those who in their rashness dare to
blaspheme Thee. Who will not bless this Blood of value infinite? who does not feel himself inflamed with the love of Jesus, who shed it all for us? What should I be but for this Blood, which
hath redeemed me? And who drew it out of the veins of my Lord, even unto the last drop? It was love.
O immense love, which gave to us this saving Balsam! O Balsam beyond all price, streaming forth from the Fount of
immeasurable love! Give to all hearts, all tongues, power to praise, celebrate, and
thank Thee, now and ever, and throughout all eternity. Amen.
V. Redemisti nos, Domine, in Sanguine tuo.
R. Et fecisti nos Deo nostro regnum.
Oremus.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui Unigenitum Filium tuum mundi Redemptorem
constituisti, ac ejus Sanguine placari voluisti: concede nobis, quaesumus, salutis
nostrae pretium ita venerari, atque praesentis vitae malis ejus virtute defendi in terris, ut fructu
perpetuo laetemur in
coelis. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate, &c. Amen.
TRANSLATION.
V. Then hast redeemed us, O Lord, with Thy Blood.
R. And hast made us a kingdom to our God.
Let us pray.
Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of
the world, and hast willed to be appeased with His Blood; grant us, we beseech
Thee, so to venerate this Blood, the price of our salvation, and so to be defended by its power upon earth from
the evils of this present life, that in heaven we may enjoy its everlasting fruit.
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, world without
end. Amen.
Pope Pius VII., of holy memory, by a Rescript of the Segretaria of the Memorials of Sept. 22, 1817, kept in the
Archivium of the Archconfraternity of
the Precious Blood, granted -
i. An indulgence of 300 days to all the faithful who, with contrite hearts, shall make to the Eternal Father the following offerings of the
Precious Blood of His well-beloved Son
Jesus Christ, together with seven Gloria Patri's, and an ejaculation with the intention of
making thereby a compensation for all the outrages which are done to the Precious Blood,
which is the price and ransom of our souls.
ii. A plenary indulgence to all who say them for a month together, on any one day, once
in the month, when, after Confession
and Communion, they shall pray according to the intention of the Sovereign
Pontiff.
THE OFFERINGS.
I. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for
the propagation and exaltation of my dear Mother Thy holy Church, for
the safety and prosperity of her visible head, our chief pastor the Bishop of
Rome; for
the cardinals, bishops, and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.
Then say one Gloria Patri, and the ejaculation,
Blessed and praised for evermore be Jesus, who hath saved us with His Blood.
II. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy
well-beloved Son, my
Saviour and my God, for the peace and concord of Catholic kings and princes, for
the humiliation of
the enemies of our Holy Faith, and for the welfare of all Christian people.
One Gloria Patri, and
Blessed and praised, &c.
III. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus,
Thy well-beloved Son, my
Saviour and my God, for the repentance of unbelievers, the uprooting of heresy, and the conversion of sinners.
One Gloria Patri, and Blessed and praised, &c.
IV. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my relations, friends, and enemies; for the poor, the sick, and the afflicted, and for all those for whom Thou my God knowest that I ought to pray, or wouldst have me pray.
One Gloria Patri, and Blessed and praised, &c.
V. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all who this day are passing to the other life; that Thou wouldst save them from the pains of Hell, and admit them quickly to the possession of Thy glory.
One Gloria Patri, and Blessed and praised, &c.
VI. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all those who love this great treasure, for those who join with me in adoring it and honouring it, and for those who strive to spread devotion to it.
One Gloria Patri, and Blessed and praised, &c.
VII. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merits of the Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my wants, spiritual and temporal, in suffrage for the holy souls in purgatory, and chiefly for these who were most devout to this Blood, the price of our redemption, and to the sorrows and pains of our dear Mother, most holy Mary.
One Gloria Patri, and Blessed and praised, &c.
Glory be to the Blood of Jesus, new and for ever, and throughout all ages. Amen.
The same Pope Pius VII., by a Rescript of Oct. 18, 1815, kept in the same
Archivium as the above, granted -
The Indulgence of 300 days for the prayer given above,
Most Precious Blood, &c.
He granted also by the same Rescript the Indulgence of 100 days daily, to every one who
makes
the following aspirations.
THE ASPIRATIONS.
Viva, Viva Jesł!
Glory be to Jesus!
Who in bitter pains
Pour'd for me the life-blood
From His sacred veins.
Grace and life eternal
In that Blood I find;
Bless'd be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!
Bless'd through endless ages
Be the precious stream,
Which from endless torment
Doth the world redeem.
There the fainting spirit
Drinks of life her fill;
There, as in a fountain,
Laves herself at will.
O the Blood of Christ!
It soothes the Father's ire;
Open the gate of heaven,
Quells eternal fire.
Abel's blood for vengeance
Pleaded to the skies;
But the Blood of Jesus
For our pardon cries.
Oft as it is sprinkled
On our guilty hearts,
Satan in confusion
Terror-struck departs.
Oft as earth exulting
Wafts its praise on high,
Hell with terror trembles,
Heaven is filled with joy.
Lift ye, then, your voices;
Swell the mighty flood;
Louder still and louder,
Praise the Precious Blood.
The same Pope Pius VII., by a Rescript signed with his own hand, March 22, 1817 (kept in
the Archivium of the Congregation of Passionist Fathers at their retreat of SS. John
and Paul, here in Rome), granted -
The Indulgence of 100 days to all the faithful, every time they nay the
following Ejaculation, or Offering of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ to the Eternal Father.
Eternal Father! I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus, in satisfaction for
my sins, and for the wants of Holy Church.
Pope Leo XII., of holy memory, by his Rescript of Oct. 25, 1825 (kept in the
Archivium of
the FF. Minor Observants of Ara Coeli, here in Rome), granted to all the
faithful -
i. The indulgence of 100 days every time they devoutly say the following Offering of this Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Eternal Father, to obtain His heavenly
blessing,
with one Pater noster, one Ave Maria, and one Gloria Patri, to
the most Holy Trinity, in thanksgiving for blessings received.
ii. The Plenary indulgence to those who say it daily for a month, at
the end of this month, on any one day when, after having Confessed and
Communicated, they shall pray according to the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
THE OFFERING.
Eternal Father! we offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Jesus, shed for us with such great
love and
bitter pain from His Right Hand; and through the merits and the efficacy of
that
Blood, we entreat thy Divine Majesty to grant us Thy Holy benediction, in order
that we may be defended thereby from all our enemies,
and be set free from every ill; whilst we say, "Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris et
Filii et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super nos, et maneat semper. Amen."
Pater, Ave, and Gloria, as before mentioned.
By a grant of Pope Gregory XVI., of July 5, 1843, the Indulgence
mentioned above, for saying
the Chaplet of the Precious Blood, may all be gained by saying the following short
Chaplet; and any one who cannot meditate, may
gain them by only saying devoutly the thirty-three Pater noster's which make up
the Chaplet.
THE SHORT CHAPLET.
V. Deus in adjutorium meum intende.
ii. Domine ad adjuvandum me festina.
Gloria Patri, &c.
First Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood in His Circumcision.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria, and
Te ergo quaesumus tuis famulis subveni, quos pretioso Sanguine redemisti.
We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Second Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood in the Agony in the Garden.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria.
Te ergo quaesumus &c.
Third Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood in His Scourging.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria.
Te ergo quaesumus &c.
Fourth Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood in His crowning with Thorns.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria.
Te ergo quaesumus &c.
Fifth Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood in carrying His Cross.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria.
Te ergo quaesumus &c.
Sixth Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood in His Crucifixion.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria.
Te ergo quaesumus &c.
Seventh Mystery.
Jesus shed Blood and Water from His wounded Side.
Five Pater noster's, one Gloria.
Te ergo quaesumus &c.
PRAYER.
Most Precious Blood, &c., as above.
V. Redemisti, &c.
R. Et fecisti nos, &c.
Oremus.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, &c.
All as above.
Pope Pius IX., by a Rescript of June 4, 1850, kept in the Archivium of the Congregation of Missionaries of
the Precious Blood, granted to all the
faithful -
i. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines, for every day of "the month consecrated to the Blood of Jesus Christ," on whatever day the
month may begin by the custom of any public church or oratory, the condition of gaining the Indulgence being to assist at the devotion with contrition.
ii. A plenary indulgence to all who shall assist at it at least ten times in the month; which
they may gain in the course of the said month, or on one of the seven days
immediately following it, if, having Confessed and Communicated, they shall visit a church or public oratory, and pray there for a
time according to the mind of the Sovereign
Pontiff.
iii. An indulgence of 300 days to those who shall practise this devotion in private, with devout prayers and good actions in honour of the Precious Blood.
iv. A plenary indulgence, if they shall practise it for a month together, provided that on
the last day of the month, or one of the seven following days, they go to Confession and
Communion, visit a church, and pray as aforesaid.
The same Pope Pius IX., by the same Rescript of June 4, 1850, granted to all the
faithful -
A plenary indulgence, (1) for the first Sunday of July
(the day appointed for the Feast of the Precious Blood), and (2) for the Friday after the Fourth Sunday in Lent
(when the Church recites the Office of the Precious Blood), beginning from the
first vespers of those days, provided that they go to Confession and Communion, and visit
the Church of the Archconfraternity or Confraternity of the Precious Blood, or else the church where
has
been established
the Confraternity or Pious Union aggregated to the principal Archconfraternity,
and bearing the same title.
At the prayer of several devout members of the Pious Union erected in Rome,
under
the protection of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady, the same Pope
Pius IX., by an autograph Rescript of June 18, 1851, kept in the Segretaria of
the S. Congr. of Indulgences, granted certain indulgences to all who say
the following Offering of the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to
the Most Holy Trinity, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with
which the most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, was enriched, most especially
those which she received in her Immaculate Conception, viz.
i. An indulgence of 300 days every time they are said with contrition,
together with the accompanying prayer to the Blessed Virgin.
ii. A plenary indulgence to all who say them every day for an entire
month, to be gained on that day when, after Confession and Communion,
they shall visit a church or public oratory, and pray there for a time according to the intention of
his Holiness.
THE OFFERINGS.
i. Eternal Father! in Union with the most Holy and Immaculate Virgin and in her name, and in union with and in the name of all the Blessed in heaven and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most obedient Daughter, particularly in her Immaculate Conception. I offer Thee also His Precious Blood for the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy Holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor the Bishop of Rome, and according to his intentions.
Gloria Patri, &c.
ii. Eternal and Incarnate Word! in union with the most Holy and Immaculate Virgin and in her name, and in union with and in the name of all the Blessed in heaven and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee Thine own most Precious Blood in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most loving Mother, particularly in her Immaculate Conception. I offer Thee also this Precious Blood for the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor the Bishop of Rome, and according to his intentions.
Gloria Patri, &c.
iii. Holy and Eternal Spirit! in union with the most Holy and Immaculate Virgin and in her name, and in union with and in the name of all the blessed in heaven and of all the elect upon earth, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Jesus in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges with which Thou hast enriched Mary, as Thy most faithful Spouse, particularly in her immaculate Conception. I offer Thee also this Precious Blood for the conversion of poor sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of Thy Holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of our chief pastor the Bishop of Rome, and according to his intentions.
Gloria Patri, &c.
PRAYER TO THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN.
Mary, Mother of God, most Holy and Immaculate Virgin, by the love thou dost ever bear to God, by the gratitude thou hast towards him, for the manifold graces and favours with which thou wast enriched by Him, particularly for the privilege granted to thee alone of thy Immaculate Conception, and by the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, thy Divine Son our Lord, we pray thee most earnestly to obtain for us a most perfect and constant devotion towards thyself, and a full trust that through thy most mighty intercession we shall receive all the graces
which we ask; certain therefore now of obtaining them from thy great goodness, with hearts
overflowing with joy and thankfulness we venerate thee, repeating the salutation which the holy archangel Gabriel made to thee.
Ave Maria, &c.