Heartbeat of the Month – July
Traditionally, the Church has dedicated the month of July to the Most Precious Blood of Christ, ever since Pius IX fixed the feast for the first Sunday in July. Subsequently, Pius X established it for 1 July, and Pope Pius XI elevated it to the rank of a Solemnity in 1934, until it was removed from the liturgical calendar following the Second Vatican Council and merged with the Feast of Corpus Christi.
That is why this month is a good time to revive this beautiful and deeply meaningful tradition and offer sacrifices and prayers to the Lord in reparation for His Blood shed for the remission of our sins. To this end, you may find this prayer by Saint Gaspar del Búfalo, the first promoter of this devotion, helpful:
O precious Blood of my Lord, may I love and praise You for ever. O love of my Lord, made manifest in a wound! How far we are from living in accordance with Your life. O Blood of Jesus Christ, balm for our souls, fountain of mercy, let my tongue, imbued with your blood in the daily celebration of Mass, bless you now and for ever. O Lord, who will not love you? Who will not burn with grateful affection for you? Your wounds, your blood, your thorns, the cross—and the divine blood in particular, shed to the very last drop—with what eloquent voice it cries out to my poor heart! Since you agonised and died for me to save me, I too will give my life, if necessary, so that I may attain the blessed possession of heaven. O Jesus, who have become our redemption, from your open side—ark of salvation, furnace of charity—flowed blood and water, a sign of the sacraments and of the tenderness of your love. May you be adored and blessed for ever, O Christ, who have loved us and washed us in your most precious blood! Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Saints
Also in July is one of the most beloved and popular Marian feasts: Our Lady of Mount Carmel. There are many testimonies from saints and popes regarding the graces received through her scapular. We have compiled some of them:
“May the Scapular be your sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which we are in particular need of in these perilous times (…) the Scapular marks us out as Mary’s chosen children and becomes for us a ‘Garment of Grace’.” Pius XII
“Just as men take pride in seeing others wear their uniform, so Our Lady, Mother Mary, is pleased when her servants wear her scapular as a sign that they have dedicated themselves to her service and are members of the family of the Mother of God.” Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
“Since not all forms of devotion to the Blessed Virgin, nor all the various ways of expressing that love, can be equally pleasing to her – and therefore do not help us to the same degree in attaining heaven – I say without a moment’s hesitation: the Carmelite Scapular is her favourite!” Saint Claude de la Colombière
The Thorns of June
As we contemplate the Passion and Death of Christ on the Cross, we can enter deeply into the mystery of God’s love and come to understand that His very Blood continues to be shed today through the wounds that spring from His mystical Body, the Church.
Por quienes profanan el Santo Sacrificio del altar llenando de abominaciones los lugares santos. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us.
For those who allow lay people to perform roles at Mass that do not belong to them. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us.
For those who seek the rite of Holy Mass as celebrated by the saints, which has been the cornerstone of the faith throughout history. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us.
For those who blaspheme by promoting religious indifference and communion with those who lack true faith. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us.
By those who entrust the governance of the Church to people who have not received the sacrament of Holy Orders. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us.
For those who deny the redemptive value of suffering as a path to sanctification in union with Christ. Forgive us, Lord, forgive us.
July’s aim
Repent of your sins, reflect on them, and bear in mind the immense price that Our Lord Jesus Christ paid for them:
His Most Precious Blood
This song might help you:
