Fr. Jim Blount is an exorcist, devoted to a ministry of healing and deliverance. He recently shared with us four steps to enable forgiveness.
When ministering, he is like an experienced doctor who, after listening to patients and observing their symptoms, prescribes the appropriate medicine. But the “medicines” Fr. Jim dispenses are of a different nature.
Fr. Jim first ensures those seeking his help return to Mass and the sacraments – especially Reconciliation – if they have been estranged from the Church.
He then recommends increasing one’s prayer life by praying the Holy Rosary daily. He also recommends making Holy Hours of devotion before the Blessed Sacrament.
And yet he frequently recommends a prayer many people will be unfamiliar with: the Precious Blood Prayer.
The prayer is only 12 words long:
“Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world.”
Fr. Blount says that it isan effective prayer of deliverance, as demons must flee from the power of Jesus’ blood. The priest-exorcist frequently recommends that people recite this prayer 500 times each day. It can be helpful to use your rosary to keep track of the number.
The Church’s honoring of Jesus’ Precious Blood reflects our certainty that Jesus gave his life out of love for us, spilling his blood for the salvation of humanity. With his blood shed on the cross, he saved us from the power of sin, death, and Satan.
As St. Peter, the first pope, wrote in his first epistle (1 Peter 1:19):
“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.”
What’s more, Catholics are mystically united to Jesus by consuming his blood in the Eucharist, under the appearance of wine. Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist is his body, blood, soul and divinity.
History and liturgy
For a few decades, July 1 was celebrated as the Feast of the Precious Blood.
After Vatican II the feast was removed from the calendar, but a votive Mass in honor of the Precious Blood was established and can be celebrated in the month of July (as well as most other months of the year).
The entire month of July is traditionally dedicated to the Precious Blood, and Catholics are encouraged to meditate on the profound sacrifice of Jesus and the pouring out of his blood for humanity.
Read more:
Why July’s devotion to the Precious Blood might speak to you
Read more:
Pope: Jesus prays with us
And today we celebrate...