"Jesus Meets His Mother," the Fourth Station of the Cross at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, sculpted by Timothy Schmalz.
We can turn to Mary to aid us in honoring Jesus’ Most Precious Blood during the month of July. For during her pregnancy, Mary served as a living tabernacle, holding within her womb the Savior of the world. Jesus dwelt within the Blessed Mother, allowing her the honor of protecting His Body and Blood for nine incredible months. It is significant that our Lord’s Body and Blood, by which we are all saved, comes from Our Lady.
By Maria V. Gallagher
It’s the Station of the Cross that I find the most compelling — the Fourth Station, when Jesus meets His Mother while carrying His Cross. I picture Mary with a look of absolute anguish on her lovely face as she gazes at her bloodied and battered Son. This is her only Child, and He has been subjected to the worst torture imaginable. Every drop of His Blood was so precious to her, so filled with meaning.
It is a scene of profound sadness; however, it is also mixed with hope, for, in the shedding of His Blood, He paid the price that allowed us to gain possible entrance into Heaven.
Month of the Precious Blood
During the month of July, we are called to show our devotion to the Most Precious Blood in a special way. We can begin by thanking Jesus for His incredible sacrifice for us, allowing His own Blood to pour out in reparation for our many sins. When we spend time meditating on His Most Precious Blood, we can gain greater understanding of His profound and abundant love for us.
In addition, we can turn to Mary to aid us in honoring Jesus’ Most Precious Blood. During her pregnancy, Mary served as a living tabernacle, holding within her womb the Savior of the world. Jesus dwelt within the Blessed Mother, allowing her the honor of protecting His Body and Blood for nine incredible months. It is significant that our Lord’s Body and Blood, by which we are all saved, comes from Our Lady. Mary shows us the power of motherhood as a source for goodness and holiness.
The Divine Dew
Those of us who are mothers can look to Our Lady for inspiration in devoting ourselves to Jesus’ Most Precious Blood. Our own spirituality can be deeply enriched by dedicating ourselves to sharing the Precious Blood devotion with those who cross our paths.
As a spiritual mother, St. Thérèse of Lisieux demonstrated this dedication to the Most Precious Blood when she expressed her profound sorrow upon seeing a picture of Christ Crucified:
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.
Following in the footsteps of the Little Flower, we can undertake practical devotions to honor the Most Precious Blood and our Blessed Mother, who gave to God His human nature:
- Frequent reception of Holy Communion enables us to unite with Christ’s Body and Blood, and, in that union, draw strength and courage from Him.
- In Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we can show our devotion to Jesus’ Body and Blood, praising Him for His unparalleled sacrifice for us.
- We can pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, gaining new insight into the impact the pouring out of Christ’s Blood has had on mankind. We can also contemplate the role Mary plays in salvation history and in our redemption.
- We can pray the Litany of the Most Precious Blood, which can be found on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website.
Our souls are washed clean through the Blood of the Lamb, Who gave His very life so that we might live forever with Him and His devoted mother in Paradise.
Let us all dedicate ourselves to spreading devotion to His Most Precious Blood far and wide!
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