July is The Month of The Precious Blood of Jesus

We may think of July as “the quiet month” because
all meetings are not held in the parish church and most
people focus on vacation. In our part of the country we
also experience intensive muggy days, know to us sometimes
as “dog days”.

In the Church we celebrate the Feast of Sts. Anne and
Joachim (July 26th) and the Feast of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel (July 16th) and the Precious Blood of Jesus (July
1st).

How did this come about? It was during the first
Italian war for independence in 1849. Blessed Pope Pius
(1846-1878) was exiled from Rome to Gaeta, Italy. He
went there accompanied by a certain Don (Fr.) Giovanni
Merlini, Superior General of the fathers of The Most
Precious Blood.

Father Merlini suggested to Blessed Pius to establish a
universal feast day in honor of the Precious Blood of
Jesus. Thus asking God to end the war and bring peace
to Rome. Blessed Pius IX established the Feast of the
Precious Blood of Jesus on July 1, 1849. Soon the war
did end and Pope Pius IX returned to Rome. Pope St..
Pius X (1903-1914) officially proclaimed July 1st as the
Feast Day of The Precious Blood of Jesus. Incidentally,
we do not celebrate the Precious Blood of Jesus on July
1st as for us, it is the Feast Day of St. Junipero Serra,
founder of the State of California. However, Vatican II
(1962-19665) established that the Feast in honor of the
Precious Blood can be celebrated on any day in July that
doesn’t honor a Saint.

We are encouraged, by the Church to meditate on the
profound sacrifice of Jesus and the pouring out of His
blood on the Cross for all.