R/. O LORD make haste to help me. V/. Glory be to the FATHER, etc. R/. As it was in the beginning, etc.
FIRST MYSTERY. THE first time our loving SAVIOUR shed his Precious Blood for us was on the eighth day after his birth, when he was circumcised in order to fulfil the law of Moses. While, then, we reflect that JESUS did this to satisfy the justice of GOD for our lax ways, let us rouse ourselves to sorrow for them, and promise, with the help of his all-powerful grace, to be henceforth truly chaste in body and in soul. PATER noster five times, and Gloria PATRI once.
WHAT streams of Precious Blood did not our loving LORD pour forth from his veins when laden with the heavy Cross on that most grievous journey to Calvary! The very streets and ways of Jerusalem, through which He passed, were watered with it! This He did in satisfaction for the scandals and bad example by which his own creatures had led others astray. 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 what have we done to remedy this evil? Henceforth let us at least do all we can to save souls by word and by example, making ourselves a pattern to all of goodness and a holy life. PATER noster five times, and Gloria PATRI once.
MORE, and still more Precious Blood did the REDEEMER of mankind shed in his barbarous Crucifixion; when, his veins being rent and arteries burst, there rushed 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 a lost world. Who, 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 done, and detest them before the feet of the sacred minister of GOD; let us amend our evil ways, and henceforth begin a truly Christian life, with the remembrance ever in our hearts of all the Blood which our salvation cost the SAVIOUR of men. PATER noster five times, and Gloria PATRI once.
poured out to the last drop for our salvation. Oh, the great goodness of our redeeming LORD! Who will not love Thee, SAVIOUR of my soul? 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; so let us invite all creatures upon earth, all angels and all saints in Paradise, and most of all our dear Mother Mary, to bless, praise, and celebrate thy most Precious Blood. Glory to the Blood of JESUS! Now and ever throughout all ages. Amen. PATER noster thrice, and Gloria PATRI once.
MOST Precious Blood of life eternal! price and ransom of the world! drink and bath of the soul! ever pleading the cause of man before the throne of 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 dare in their rashness to blaspheme Thee. Who will not bless this Blood of value infinite? who does not feel himself on fire with the love of JESUS, who shed it all for us? What should I be but for this Blood, which hath redeemed me? And what drew Thee, Thou Precious Blood, from the veins of my LORD, even to the last drop? It was love. O boundless 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/. Thou 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 by his Blood; grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate this Blood, the price of our salvation, and so to be defended on earth by its power from the evils of this present life, that in heaven we may be made glad by its everlasting fruit. Who liveth and reigneth, etc. Amen.