His Blood Is Our Life

St. Gaspar del Bufalo began a life of devotion to the Precious Blood of Our Lord from a young age and, after becoming a priest, he preached far and wide in the country of Italy. He converted many non-Catholics, even criminals and Freemasons, and founded the Society of the Precious Blood. When Pope Pius IX was forced into hiding by the enemies of the Church, he instituted this great feast. Despite the relatively recent promulgation of the devotion, we can find reference to the Cross, and the Precious Blood which was shed upon it, as early as the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life. In the Old Testament both the Chosen People and pagan cults would practice blood sacrifice, as if the whole world was anticipating the sacrifice of the Son of God in our Redemption. The blood of these sacrificial victims was sprinkled on the Israelites for the remission of their sins. The blood was considered the source of life, and it can truly be said that the Precious Blood of Christ is the source of our lives. Through His Blood we are united to Him, we are part of His Mystical Body. It is the spiritual Drink that lifts us to Heaven.