Virgo Potens

NOVENA to ST. CHARBEL MAKHLUF Feast July 24th Countless, countless miracles are attributed to this remarkable saint of the Middle East, St. Charbel. Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

NOVENA to ST. CHARBEL MAKHLUF Feast July 24th Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

Novena to St. Charbel Makhluf Feast July 24th Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 The Waste of the Precious Blood 2. How do men waste the Precious Blood? Whenever they reject any grace that it has won for them, whether it be a grace to avoid sin, or a grace that is intended to carry them on to a higher level of virtue, their rejection renders it, as far as they are concerned, inefficacious. It has been offered in vain, on account of their non-acceptance of the grace offered them. 3. Their rejection of it does not simply leave them where they were, but puts them in a worse position than before it was received. They are less ready to receive further graces. They have disqualified themselves for at least a portion of the rich store of grace that God had prepared for them. The Precious Blood has not only been shed in vain for them, but through their perversity has been for their disadvantage, and not for their benefit, in respect of the grace they have rejected and other graces which would have followed from it. Pray, then, that you may never wilfully reject any grace, lest your birthright, like Esau's, should prove a curse rather than a blessing. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 15th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 15th Day ~ The Waste of the Precious Blood 1. It seems a strange thing to say that the Precious Blood of Jesus was wasted, and in one sense it is true that every drop fulfilled the design for which it was shed in the honor it gave to God and the immeasurable reward that it won for the sacred humanity of the Son of God. But as regards men, for whom it was shed, it was in great measure wasted, because they in their folly and guilt refused the boon that was offered them. Alas! what madness to spurn such a treasure, every drop of which was worth a million worlds! (continued)

2 of 2 Sanctification by the Precious Blood 2. How does the Precious Blood win these graces for us? It appeals to the love of God, and reminds Him that, as He has given us the surpassing gift of His own Son to be sacrificed for us, He must with Him also freely give us all things. In that one gift all else is contained, and we have a sort of claim to whatever we want from the hands of God. 3. The Precious Blood of Christ also obtains our sanctification bythemeritsthatitwon forus. Each drop that was shed was enough, and more than enough, to purchase graces without limit orend. AlltheactionsofOurLordhadan infi nite value by reason of His infinite dignity. How much more the shedding of that Blood which in itself calls for the highest adoration! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

A ce divin nectar mon cœur se désaltère. Ce fèstin vant pour lui les plaisirs de la terre. With this divine nectar my heart quenches its thirst. This banquet surpasses the pleasures of the earth. Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 14th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 14th Day ~ Sanctification by the Precious Blood 1. The Precious Blood does not only wash away the sins of men and restore them to friendship with God. This is but the commencement of its work of love and mercy. It has in it unlimited power to carry them on to the heights of sanctity, to engender in them every virtue, to implant in the soul all the gifts of the Holy Ghost. So we read in the Apocalypse that the Lamb of God has not only washed us from our sins in His own blood, but also made us to be kings and priests of God. So through the Precious Blood there is bestowed on me not only cleanness from my past sins, but graces to make me beautiful in the sight of God. (continued)

2 of 2 The Conquests of the Precious Blood 2. The shedding of the Precious Blood also won for Christ our King not only a new territory, but a multitude of new subjects. If the material world was sanctified by the Precious Blood, how much more those who dwelt upon it! What must be the joy of Jesus to look down on whole countries faithful to Him amidst trials and persecutions! Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Catholic Austria, France, Italy, covered with multitudes subdued and held in joyful captivity by the Precious Blood. Rejoice in the widespread of the Faith, and pray that it may spread more and more. 3. Above all, the Precious Blood has subdued to the yoke of Christ priests innumerable, monks, nuns, saints in the world and in religion, all rejoicing to be the very bond-slaves of the Precious Blood. Their chief calls himself the Servant of the Servants of God. Pray that you may rejoice to be a willing slave of Jesus Christ. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 13th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 13th Day ~ The Conquests of the Precious Blood 1. Victory without conquest is but of little avail to one who invades the territory of the foe. Our Lord came not only to subdue His enemies, but to obtain for Himself a kingdom. By the shedding of the Precious Blood the kingdoms of this world became the kingdoms of Our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. The blood of Jesus sinking into the ground gave to this earth a new life. The curse had departed, the new era had begun which shall culminate in the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth justice. Pray that the King may soon come to take possession of this kingdom. (continued)

2 of 2 The Victories of the Precious Blood 2. The Precious Blood has also conquered sinners by thousands, who, if it had not been shed, would have remained hardened sinners unto the end. Who can withstand its silent appeal, as it trickles down from His head, His hands, His feet? Who can refuse to listen to its silent pleadings? Who can turn away from Him Who has thus loved us even unto death? O my Jesus, may I never turn away from Thy voice calling me from Thy throne upon the cross to love Thee and obey Thy voice! 3. The Precious Blood has also conquered and averted the anger of God, Whose decree of just retribution would but for it have fallen upon sinners. Can the Father resist the pleadings of His co-equal Son when He holds out His hands, still marked with the scars of His sacred wounds, and asks for mercy and forgiveness for the sinner? May Thy wounds, O Jesus, plead for me now and at the hour of death! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 12th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 12th Day ~ The Victories of the Precious Blood 1. The Precious Blood has conquered sin and Satan. It was the shedding of it on the cross which gave the death-blow to the kingdom of the devil. It was when the Son of God had by the loss of His Sacred Blood been reduced to the extremity of weakness and of misery, and brought down to the very gates of death, that he triumphed over the tyrant that had enslaved the world, and compelled all the rebel angels to bow the knee before His sacred humanity. Rejoice with your victorious King, and pray that you may deserve to share His triumph. (continued)

2 of 2 The Universality of the Precious Blood 2. What about the innocent child who dies without Baptism? For it, too, the Precious Blood was shed; and if it does not attain to eternal happiness in heaven, this is owing to the wilful sin of man, and not to any lack of efficacy in the Precious Blood. It will at least enjoy great natural happiness through all eternity. He who shed His Precious Blood for all is not unmindful of those who through no fault of their own fail of attaining the joy of the beatific vision. 3. Does the Precious Blood do anything for sinners who have rejected it? Yes, for though their rejection of it excludes them from all right to share in the blessings it won for man, and has deserved for them eternal punishment, yet their punishment, terrible as it will be, will nevertheless be in some way short of what they deserved, and this through the merits of the Precious Blood. Thank God for His infinite mercy, and pray that you may never forfeit any of the graces won for you. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

La source des grâces The sources of graces Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 11th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 11th Day ~ The Universality of the Precious Blood 1. It is of faith that Christ died, not only for the elect, but for all. There was no single individual member of the whole race of men who did not enjoy the privilege of being redeemed by Christ, not the most degraded of the heathen, not the most ignorant or the most hardened in sin. The Precious Blood was sprinkled on all, and if they did not avail themselves of its benefits it was their own fault. None will incur the eternal misery of hell who has not deliberately rejected the forgiveness that the Precious Blood won for us. (continued)

EJACULATION To be said in reparation for blasphemies ETERNAL Father, by the most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, glorify his most holy Name, according to the intention and the desires of his adorable Heart. 300 Days, t.q.* Plenary, once a month, according to the usual conditions Pius X, January 27, 1908 ~ The Raccolta (1910) *Unless otherwise stated, e.g., "once a day," a partial Indulgence may be gained any number of times in succession. This is indicated by the letters t.q.

2 of 2 The Precious Blood on Calvary 2. The angels not only treasure up the Precious Blood, but they pay to each drop their supreme homage. So we kneel and adore the Precious Blood in the chalice upon the altar. In each drop Christ is present whole and undivided. Make an act of faith in this wondrous miracle, and pray that you may adore with a reverent homage like that of the angels present at the crucifixion. 3. As the three hours advance, the body of Jesus is more and more drained of the Precious Blood. Hence follows a thirst so agonizing that it forced from them lips of Jesus the cry, "I thirst!" When our lips are parched and dry in sickness or in the agony of death, may we remember Thee, O Lord, and Thy sacred thirst endured for us, and may we offer up our sufferings in union with Thy unspeakable and agonizing thirst upon the cross! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 10th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 10th Day ~ The Precious Blood on Calvary 1. In old pictures and engravings of the crucifixion we often see angels holding a chalice to catch the drops of the Precious Blood as they fall from the sacred wounds in the hands and feet ofJesus. We are also told that the angels collected all the blood that Our Lord had shed during His Passion, that not a drop might be lost. How they must have counted each drop as a treasure of infinite value! What were all the treasures of earth compared with these drops, instinct with the Godhead of Jesus! Pray that you may scorn all earthly things in comparison with the Precious Blood of Jesus. (continued)

Act of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary HOLY MARY, Mother of God and virgin, I choose thee this day for my queen, patron, and advocate, and firmly resolve and purpose never to abandon thee, never to say or do anything against thee, nor to permit that aught be done by others to dishonor thee. Receive me, then, I conjure thee, as thy perpetual servant; assist me in all my actions, and do not abandon me at the hour of my death. Amen. ~ St. John Berchmans (Ind. of 300 days, for each recitation.—Pius X. Nov. 17, 1906.) Fr. Charles Callan O.P. and Fr. John McHugh, O.P., Blessed Be God (1925)

2 of 2 The Precious Blood in its Earthly Origin 2. We also find in this thought a fresh proof ofMary's unblemished purity. It is repugnant to our reverence for the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity to imagine Him dwelling in a womb that had ever been defiled with sin, and much more to suppose that the Precious Blood which flowed in His veins and was the price of our redemption did not come from a source as pure as God could make it. Make an act of faith in the Immaculate Conception of Mary, and thank God for that privilege conferred on her. 3. We must also remember that Jesus' blood was wholly Mary's. It was not as in the case of other children who have an earthly father. The body of Jesus was formed in Mary’s womb by the operation of the Holy Ghost, and naturally Jesus was altogether hers. In heaven, the body that Jesus wears is still the body derived from Mary, and their union is now closer than ever. In holy Communion Jesus is altogether ours. Do we conform ourselves to Him as Mary did? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus ~ July 9th ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ 9th Day ~ The Precious Blood in its Earthly Origin 1. A child in its mother’s womb lives with the physical life of its mother. It is nourished by its mother, and her blood circulates in its veins. The Precious Blood ofJesus flowing through His veins was derived from Mary. She furnished from her immaculate body the Precious Blood that Jesus shed for us. How close must have been the union of Jesus and Mary! Can we wonder at her surpassing holiness when she not only carried her God within her womb, but furnished the very body with which His humanity clothed itself? (continued)