During those times in our lives when we do not feel God's love, it is most beneficial to meditate on Jesus' crucifixion and the many wounds he suffered out of love for us. It freshens in our minds the great pain Jesus endured and the profound depth of his love.
One way to enter into Jesus' Passion is to meditate on the wounds he received and the blood that poured forth from those wounds. It is an ancient devotion in the Church, one that has roots in the New Testament. For example, in the First Letter of John we read, "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
Here is a short guide to a beautiful devotion to Jesus' Passion called the "Chaplet of the Precious Blood." It contains powerful prayers that can be prayed using an ordinary rosary.
Make the sign of the cross.
On the first large bead, recite the Apostles' Creed.
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
After that, say the following prayer:
May the Precious Blood that flows out from the Sacred Head of Our Lord Jesus Christ cover us now and forever. Amen.
For each decade of beads, there is a different wound of Jesus to meditate on.
1) The Nailing of the Right Hand of Our Lord Jesus.
Say the following prayer:
By the Precious Wound in Thy Right Hand and through the pain of the nail which pierced Thy Right Hand, may the Precious Blood that pours out from there, convert many souls and save sinners of the whole world. Amen.
Remaining on the same bead, pray an Our Father and Hail Mary.
Then on the small beads pray, "Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Save us and the whole world."
At the end of each decade pray the "Glory Be."
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
2) The Nailing of the Left Hand of Our Lord Jesus
Say the following prayer:
By the Precious Wound in Thy Left Hand and through the pain of the nail which pierced Thy Left Hand, may the Precious Blood that pours out from there relieve Souls in Purgatory and protect the dying against the attacks of evil spirits. Amen.
Repeat the same sequence as the first mystery.
3) The Nailing of the Right Foot of Our Lord Jesus
Say the following prayer:
By the Precious Wound in Thy Right Foot and through the pain of the nail which pierced Thy Right Foot, may the Precious Blood that pours out from there cover the foundation of the Catholic Church against the plans of the evil spirit and evil men. Amen.
Repeat the same sequence as the first mystery.
4) The Nailing of the Left Foot of Our Lord Jesus
Say the following prayer:
By the Precious Wound in Thy Left Foot, and through the pain of the nail which pierced Thy Left Foot, may the Precious Blood that pours out from there protect us from the plans and the attacks of evil spirits and their minions. Amen.
Repeat the same sequence as the first mystery.
5) The Piercing of the Sacred Side of Our Lord Jesus.
Say the following prayer:
By the Precious Wound in Thy Sacred Side and through the pain of the lance which pierced Thy Sacred Side, may the Precious Blood and Water that pours out from there cure the sick, bring repentance to the dying, and bring us to eternal happiness with God. Amen.
Repeat the same sequence as the first mystery.
At the end of the Chaplet, pray these prayers.
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the Blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, Oh holy Mother of God;
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.O Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, we honor, worship and adore Thee Heal the wounds our souls and wash away the sins of the whole world. O Precious Blood, have mercy. Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Pray for us.
St. Joseph,
Pray for us.
Sts. Peter and Paul,
Pray for us.
St. John at the foot of the Cross,
Pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalene,
Pray for us.
All ye Saints and Angels,
Pray for us.
Read more:
How to pray the Rosary of St. Joseph
Read more:
How to pray the Chaplet of the Holy Souls
