Rev. Fr. Max Walz - Glories of the Precious Blood (with Supplemental Reading: Devotion to the Sacred Heart) [Illustrated]

Feast of the Ascension
May 18, 1939

The type in this book is the property of TAN Books and Pub lishers, Inc., and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Publisher. (This restric tion applies only to reproduction of this type , not to quotations from the book.)

ISBN: 978-0-89555-889-3

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

TAN Books
Charlotte, NC
2008

To the

Immaculate Heart of Mary

the fountain-head

of the

Blood of our Redeemer

this little volume

is affectionately dedicated

by the author

with the prayer

that our Blessed Lady

by her powerful intercession

may draw for us all

much love and many graces

from the fountains of the Precious Blood

in the

Chalice of Benediction

Contents

Devotion to the Precious Blood
PART II

Foreword

B LOOD was the first appeal of earth to Heaven. The voice of thy brothersblood crieth to me from the earth. ( Gen. 4:10). But the voice of the Blood of Jesus, the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world. ( Apoc. 13:8) and which is daily on our altars as if immolated ( Apoc. 5:6), cries without intermission to Heavennot for vengeance, as did the blood of Abel, but for pardon, grace and mercy for us all.

Devotion to the Precious Blood, which is therefore as old as the world, affords us a better understanding of the worship of the Old Law, in which blood was a characteristic feature, while it leads us into the very heart of our holy religion by explaining the sacrificial Blood of the New Testament, and by bringing home to our minds and hearts its power and efficacy in the Mass and in the Sacraments.

It is a devotion of the Mystery of Faith, of the inexpressible love of Jesus in pouring out His Blood for us on the Cross and shedding it mystically on thousands of altars as the price of our redemption and the heavenly drink of our souls.

This devotion fills us with a warmth of love not suspected by those who are unacquainted with its nature and practice. In the Mass the Church prays that the offering of the chalice of salvation may ascend in the sight of the divine Majesty with the odor of sweetness.

St. Paul says: Christ hath loved us, and hath delivered Himself for us, an oblation, and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweetness. ( Eph. 5:2).

If, therefore, the offering of the Eucharistic Blood of Jesus is an odor of sweetness to God, the practical part of the devotion to the Precious Blood, which consists in the oblation of this divine Blood, must be most pleasing and acceptable to the Triune God.

In the offering to God of the sacrificial Blood of the altar, as an oblation of homage and propitiation as well as an act of atonement for their own sins and those of others, the faithful will find at all times a copious outlet for their devotion to the Precious Blood.

Those who are oppressed by the memory of their sins, diffident about the efficacy of their prayers or doubtful about their salvation, should experience an awakening of confidence in the devotion to the Blood of the Atonement. Having therefore, brethren, a confidence in the entering into the holies by the blood of Christ. ( Heb. 10:19).

The Blood of Jesus has been fittingly called Precious Blood by the Prince of the Apostles, because:

1. The bloody rites, as a figure of our unbloody sacrifice, were an essential part of the accepted religion of the Old Law, and because the foreseeing of the shedding of the Divine Blood caused God to flood the world with mercies.

2. It had its source in the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

3. It is the Divine Blood which throughout eternity flows in and out of the Heart of Jesus.

4. It is the Price of our Redemption, because it reconciled us to God, and opened to mankind the sealed gates of Heaven.

5. It is the power, the voice, of the Sacred Heart ever pleading for us in the Mass.

6. It is this Blood that procures super-abundant lifefor us in the Sacraments, and is thereby a means of Protection, Intercession, Expiation and Sanctification.

7. It is the burden of the Song of the Elect. Thou art worthy, O Lord because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us to our God a kingdom. ( Apoc. 5:9, 10).

Foreword to the
Second and Revised Edition

T HIS book was first published in 1914. Since then it has been out of print for a number of years. Immediately after the first appearance, it was translated into French with the permission of the author.

Cardinal Bgin, Archbishop of Quebec, graciously wrote a beautiful introduction to the French edition.

Recently the author was agreeably surprised to learn that the book was transcribed and set also in Braille for the benefit of the blind.

This same book is now published [1939] with the original title but under a different arrangement and new reading matter.

The writer of these pages has attempted to portray Our Lord and Redeemer as the Prophet Isaias has visioned Him centuries before when he says: Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra? whom he calls this beautiful one in his robe. He then elicits our further and deepest interest by asking why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress?

PART I

Chapter 1

The Vision

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra? This beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his strength. I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save.

Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress?

Isaias 63:1-2

T HE Evangelist unfolds the picture which the Prophet Isaias had in mind and at the same time verifies his prophecy when he tells us that He came forth.

Who is that that came forth? The King of kings and the Lord of lords, who looks upon the earth and causes it to tremble; the fountain of sanctity, before whom the angels are not pure; the sun of eternal splendor, who dwelleth in light inaccessible; the Desire of the eternal hills; the Expected of the Nations, for whom all Israel sighed for over four thousand years.

Where does He come forth? In the city of Jerusalem, the capital of Judea, and at a time when the chosen people of God were gathered together from all parts of the world to celebrate their greatest feast. He came forth before the high council and chiefs of the whole Jewish race. He came forth before the representative of the great Roman Empire.

How did He come forth in this wonderful and dramatic setting? The long awaited Messias did not come forth in the gorgeous habiliments of an oriental potentate. He did not come forth like Moses from the mountain in dazzling light, striking terror into the hearts of the people. He did not come forth in the fiery chariot of an Elias. Jesus came forth, writes the beloved disciple, bearing the crown of thorns, and the purple garment. He came forth His body mangled and covered with Blood from head to foot. This is the vision the Prophet had when he exclaims: Who is this that cometh with dyed garments, and he expressly calls Him beautiful, just as He is beautiful in this royal robe of His own Precious Blood to all the lovers and followers of the Crucified.