Praying to the Precious Blood of Jesus with Trust
There are moments when we have prayed all the words we know.
We have asked God for help. We have worried. We have tried to figure everything out ourselves. And eventually, we realize that what we really need to do is place the situation completely into the hands of Jesus.
A beautiful way to do this is through devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.
The Precious Blood is not merely a symbol. It is the Blood Our Lord truly shed for us at His Circumcision, during His Agony, at the scourging and crowning with thorns, along the road to Calvary, and upon the Cross.
It is the price of our redemption.
When we invoke the Precious Blood, therefore, we are turning with confidence to Jesus Christ Himself and the infinite merits of His Passion.
Why Do Catholics Honor the Precious Blood?
St. Peter reminds us that we were redeemed:
"With the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." — 1 Peter 1:19
Jesus loved us enough to shed His Blood for us.
When we are frightened about our families, our health, our future, our marriages, our children, our work, or circumstances beyond our control, devotion to the Precious Blood reminds us:
The Jesus who gave everything for me on Calvary can be trusted with everything I am carrying today.
Place the Person You Love Under the Precious Blood
One beautiful Catholic practice is to entrust the people we love to the protection of Jesus.
You might pray:
"Most Precious Blood of Jesus, I entrust ____ to You. Protect them in body and soul. Guard them from evil and temptation. Give them wisdom in their decisions, strength in their difficulties, and grace to remain close to You. May Your holy will be accomplished in their life."
Then resist the temptation to immediately pick the worry back up.
You have prayed.
Now trust.
Place Your Home and Family Under His Protection
You can pray each morning:
"Precious Blood of Jesus, cover our family. Protect our home, our marriage, our children, our work, and our souls. Keep us close to Your Sacred Heart and preserve us from everything that would separate us from You."
This isn't a magical formula guaranteeing that nothing difficult will happen.
Christians still experience suffering.
Rather, it is an act of confidence in Christ's protection and providence, asking that everything that happens ultimately serve our salvation.
Pray the Precious Blood When You Are Afraid
When fear suddenly enters your mind, you don't need a long prayer.
Simply say:
"Precious Blood of Jesus, protect us."
Or:
"Jesus, through Your Precious Blood, I place this situation entirely in Your hands."
Then:
"Jesus, I trust in You."
Repeat it whenever the fear returns.
Sometimes surrender has to happen fifty times in one day.
That is still surrender.
Pray It When Someone Is Struggling
Perhaps someone you love is struggling spiritually.
You cannot force another person to change.
But you can pray.
Offer the Precious Blood of Jesus for:
Their conversion.
Protection against temptation.
Healing of old wounds.
Wisdom and discernment.
Courage to do what is right.
Perseverance in the Faith.
The grace of a holy death.
Your job is not to control their soul.
Your job is to love them, pray for them, and entrust them to Jesus.
Offer the Precious Blood for Souls
Devotion to the Precious Blood should also turn our hearts outward.
Offer your prayers for sinners, the dying, the souls in Purgatory, priests, families, and those who have no one praying for them.
You might simply pray:
"Eternal Father, I offer You the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ for the needs of Holy Church, for the conversion of sinners, for the dying, and for the relief of the souls in Purgatory."
What a beautiful habit to develop throughout the day.
Trust After You Pray
This may be the hardest part.
We can pray for ten minutes and then worry for the next ten hours.
Instead, after you entrust something to the Precious Blood, tell Jesus:
"I have given this to You. Help me leave it with You."
Trust does not mean believing God will necessarily give us exactly what we requested.
Trust says:
"Jesus, I know You love me. I know You love this person even more than I do. I know You see what I cannot see. Therefore, I trust Your wisdom, Your providence, and Your holy will."
That is much deeper than simply asking for a favor.
A Simple Daily Practice
Every morning, take a minute to entrust everything to Jesus:
Precious Blood of Jesus, protect my family.
Precious Blood of Jesus, protect our priests and our parish.
Precious Blood of Jesus, guide those I love.
Precious Blood of Jesus, protect us from temptation and evil.
Precious Blood of Jesus, strengthen those who are suffering.
Precious Blood of Jesus, save the dying and have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.
Precious Blood of Jesus, I place my future in Your hands.
Then finish:
Jesus, I trust in You.
A Prayer of Complete Trust
Lord Jesus Christ,
You loved me so greatly that You poured out Your Precious Blood for my salvation.
Today I place before You everything that concerns me: my family, those I love, my fears, my future, my work, my health, my unanswered prayers, and every situation I cannot control.
Cover us with Your Precious Blood.
Protect our souls. Strengthen our faith. Defend us against temptation. Guide our decisions and keep us close to Your Sacred Heart.
When I become afraid, remind me of Calvary.
If You loved me enough to shed Your Blood for me, surely I can trust You with my life.
I surrender the people I love to You.
I surrender the things I cannot change.
I surrender the future I cannot see.
May Your holy will be done.
Most Precious Blood of Jesus, save us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen.
When fear tells you to hold tighter, faith tells you to give it to Jesus.
When you don't know what will happen next, look at the Crucifix.
Calvary is the proof that you are loved.
The One who shed His Precious Blood for you is worthy of your complete trust.
