1. It awakens us to Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. Ever since the Last Supper, and his Passion and death on Good Friday, believers have reverenced the Precious Blood of Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is manifested in the very words of institution: ‘This is my body which is given for you’ and ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.’ In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he ‘poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’ [Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 26:28],” (paragraph 1365).

2. It helps us cherish salvation. The Precious Blood seals our redemption. St. Peter states: “…you were ransomed from your futile conduct…, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb” (1 Peter 1:18-19). St. Paul says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

3.It inspires works of mercy. St. Gaspar de Bufalo, founder of the Society of the Precious Blood in Italy in 1815, wrote: “To look at Jesus as he pours out his Blood is an act of religion which helps us do great work for our own eternal salvation [and] that of our neighbors, praying in a special way for the success of the missions…throughout the…world.” Pope Francis notes: “God chose the sign of blood, because no other sign is so eloquent to express the supreme love of life given for others. …The meditation of Christ’s sacrifice leads us to perform works of mercy, giving our life for God and for [others], without sparing,” (Speech, June 20, 2018).

4. It deepens our yearning and preparation for eternal life. Jesus preached: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (John 6:53-54). As Catholics prepare for death, they are offered a final communion, viaticum, based on these words of Jesus. The Catechism declares: “Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of ‘passing over’ to the Father…is the seed of eternal life and the power of the resurrection” (paragraph 1524).