Novena to the Precious Blood

I.

DEVOUT ASPIRATIONS.

GLORY be to Jesus!
Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the life-blood
From His sacred veins.

Grace and life eternal
In that blood I find:
Blest be His compassion,
Infinitely kind!

Blessed 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,
Opes 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!

Indulgence of 100 days, once a day.—Pius VII., Oct. 18, 1815

II.

BEHOLD me at Thy feet, Jesus of Nazareth; here I am, the most miserable of creatures that comes into Thy presence, humbled and penitent. Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy. I have sinned, and my sins have been against Thee. O God of infinite goodness, O Jesus, hear my prayers; grant, loving Father, the petitions I lay at Thy feet; cast a benign glance upon my soul, Thou Who art the loving Father of men, the supreme Judge, the King of heaven and earth, the true Benefactor of the wretched. Come to my help, then, O Jesus of Nazareth; grant the grace which I ask as I kneel at Thy feet. My soul belongs to Thee, for Thou hast created and redeemed it with Thy precious blood; let not Thy work be lost; loving Father, look down upon me and bless me. O God of mercy, have compassion on me; forgive me who am Thy son; be not stern toward me; grant me tears of penance; forgive me as Thou didst forgive the penitent thief; look down upon me from high heaven and bless me.

The Apostles’ Creed once.

Indulgence of 200 days, once a day.—Leo XIII., June 26, 1894.

III.

Say the prayers for the Seven Offerings of the Precious Blood of Jesus for the intentions of your Novena, as on p. 701.

SEVEN OFFERINGS OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

I. ETERNAL Father! I offer Thee the merit of the precious blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for my dear Mother, the holy Church that she may enlarge her borders and be magnified among all the nations of the earth; for the safety and well-being of her visible head, the Sovereign Roman Pontiff; for the cardinals bishops, and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of Thy sanctuary.

Then say the “Glory be to the Father,” and the ejaculation, “Blessing and thanksgiving be to Jesus, Who with His blood hath saved us!”

II. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit of the precious blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God for peace and union among all Catholic kings and princes, for the humiliation of the enemies of our holy faith, and for the welfare of all Christian people.

“Glory be to the Father,” and, “Blessing and thanksgiving,” etc.

III Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit of the precious blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for the repentance of unbelievers, for the uprooting of heresy, and for the conversion of sinners.

“Glory be to the Father,” and, “Blessing and thanksgiving,” etc.

IV. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit of the precious blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my kindred, friends, and enemies; for the poor, the sick, and wretched, and for all for whom Thou, my God, knowest that I ought to pray, or wouldst have me pray.

“Glory be to the Father,” and, “Blessing and thanksgiving,” etc.

V. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit 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.

“Glory be to the Father,” and, “Blessing and thanksgiving,” etc.

VI. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit 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 honoring it, and who strive to spread devotion to it.

“Glory be to the Father,” and, “Blessing and thanksgiving,” etc.

VII. Eternal Father! I offer Thee the merit of the precious blood of Jesus, Thy well-beloved Son, my Saviour and my God, for all my wants, spiritual and temporal, in aid of the holy souls in purgatory, and chiefly for those who most loved this blood, the price of our redemption, and who were most devout to the sorrows and pains of most holy Mary, our dear Mother.

“Glory be to the Father,” and, “Blessing and thanksgiving,” etc.

Glory be to the blood of Jesus, now and for ever, and throughout all ages. Amen.

Indulgence of 300 days, each time.—Pius VII., Sept. 22, 1817. Plenary indulgence once a month, under usual conditions.