July 8 - THE REDEMPTION OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WAS COPIOUS AND UNIVERSAL

July 8 - THE REDEMPTION OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST WAS COPIOUS AND UNIVERSAL
The Jews thought that the Messiah should be incarnated exclusively to restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory. Instead, Jesus came to earth to save all men, therefore for a spiritual purpose. "My kingdom is not of this world," he said. Therefore the Redemption made with his Blood was abundant - that is, he did not limit himself to giving a few drops, but gave it all - and making our way by example, our truth with the word, our life with grace and the Eucharist, he wanted to redeem man in all his faculties: in the will, in the mind, in the heart. Nor did he limit his redemptive work to some peoples or to some privileged castes: "You have redeemed us, O Lord, with your Blood, from every tribe, language, people and nation". From the top of the cross, in the presence of the whole world, his Blood descended on the earth, passed the spaces, pervaded it all, so that nature itself trembled before such an immense sacrifice. Jesus was the Expected of the Gentiles and all the Gentiles had to enjoy that immolation and look to Calvary, as the only source of salvation. Therefore from the feet of the cross they departed, and always the missionaries - apostles of the Blood - will leave so that his voice and his benefits could reach all souls.

EXAMPLE: The most outstanding relic bathed by the Precious Blood of Christ is the Holy Cross. After the prodigious discovery made by S. Elena and S. Macario, he remained in Jerusalem for three centuries; the Persians conquered the city brought it to their nation. Fourteen years later the emperor Heraclius, having subjugated Persia, personally wanted to bring it back to the Holy City. He had begun the ascent of Calvary's slope, when, stopped by a mysterious force, he could not go forward. Then the holy bishop Zacharias approached him and said to him: "Emperor, it is not possible to walk dressed with such pomp on that road that Jesus walked with so much humility and pain". Only when he put down his rich clothes and jewels could Heraclius continue the journey and put the Holy Cross back on the crucifixion hill with his own hands. We too claim to be true Christians, that is, to carry the cross with Jesus, and at the same time remain attached to the comforts of life and our pride. Well, this is absolutely impossible. It is necessary to be sincerely humble in order to be able to walk the path marked by the Blood of Jesus.

PURPOSE: For the love of the Divine Blood I will willingly suffer humiliations and will approach fraternally to the poor and persecuted.

JACULATORY: We adore you, or Jesus, and we bless you because with your holy Cross and your precious Blood you have redeemed the world.