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Christians believe that Christ’s Precious Blood is the Eucharist under the species of wine.

History

In the Early Church Christ’s Faithful received the Eucharist both as consecrated bread and wine. Saint Maximus explains that in the Old Law the flesh of the sacrificial victim was shared with the people, but the blood of the sacrifice was merely poured out on the altar. Under the New Law, however, Jesus’ blood was the drink shared by all of Christ’s Faithful.

The tradition continued in the Eastern Church to comingle the species of bread and wine, whereas in the Western Church the practice of communion under the species of bread and wine separately was the custom, with only a small fraction of bread placed in the chalice. In the Western Church, the communion at the chalice was made less and less efficient, as the dangers of the spread of disease and danger of spillage were considered enough of a reason to remove the chalice from common communion altogether (or on only special occasions). The Protestant controversy turned this into one of its main issues. As a consequence, the Catholic Church first wanted to eliminate ambiguity, declaring that Christ was present both as body and as blood equally under both species of bread and wine. As time went on, the chalice was made more available to the laity. After the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church gave a full permission for all to receive communion from the chalice at every Mass involving a congregation.

Theology

The Catholic Church teaches that the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus are contained in both consecrated bread and wine. But they remain as distinct Mysteries, mystically united.

The devotion to the Precious Blood that was an especial phenomenon of Flemish piety in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, gave rise to the iconic image of Grace as the “Fountain of Life”, filled with blood, puring from the wounded Lamb of God or the Holy Wounds of Christ. The image, which was the subject of numerous Flemish paintings was in part spurred by the renowned relic of the Precious Blood, which had been noted in Bruges since the twelfth centuryEvelyn Underhill, 1910. “The Fountain of Life: An Iconographical Study” The Burlington Magazine 17.86 (May 1910, pp. 99-101) p.100. and which gave rise, from the late thirteenth century, to the observances, particular to Bruges, of the procession of the Saint Sang from its chapel.The first historian of the Saint Sang was the abbé Carton, Essai sur l’histoire du Saint Sang. Bruges, 1857. (noted Underhill 1910:100 note).

Litany of the Most Precious Blood

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.

Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.

Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your Blood.
R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, you have appointed your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by his Blood. Grant we beg of you, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Notes

See also

• Blood of Christ
• Body of Christ