The Chaplet of the Precious Blood, also known as the Precious Blood Rosary, is a meditation on the generous love of Jesus, who shed his blood for us. Each mystery calls us to meditate on one of the seven times Jesus shed his blood. Each "decade," except the last, consists of five "Our Fathers" followed by one "Glory be" and the versicle and response. There are thirty three Our Fathers in all, recalling the thirty three years of Jesus' life on earth.
As an aid to meditation, quotations from sacred Scripture are provided for each Our Father. Different members of the group gathered to pray might each read the verses for a different mystery.
The Chaplet was composed in 1809 by Francesco Albertini and officially approved in the same year. Albertini, who founded the ArchConfraternity of the Precious Blood, was the mentor and spiritual director of Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
Saint Gaspar encouraged the Missionaries to pray this chaplet with the people every morning. It is an excellent way of heightening our awareness of God's presence in difficult and painful situations. It can help us connect our own suffering, the suffering of those we love, and the suffering of our enemies, with the suffering of Christ. Many people who like to pray the rosary every day pray the Precious Blood Rosary on Fridays, the day when we traditionally meditate on the Passion
Introductory Dialogue
Leader: O God, come to our assistance.All: Lord, make haste to help us.
Leader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.All: As it was in the beginning, is now,and will be forever. Amen.
First Mystery: The Circumcision 1. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)
Our Father
2. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. (Galatians 4:4-5)
3. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)
4. In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor lack of it counts for anything; only faith, which expresses itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)
5. At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
Glory be
Leader: Come, Lord, and help your people.All: Bought with the price of your own Blood.
Second Mystery: The Agony in the Garden
1. Jesus prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want but what you want." (Mark 14:35b-36)
2. Jesus was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. (Luke 22:44)
3. Since he himself was tempted through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)
4. In the days when he was in the flesh, Jesus offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. (Hebrews 5:7)
5. By this will, we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)
Third Mystery: The Scourging at the Pillar
1. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6)
2. Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by his stripes we were healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
3. So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15:15)
4. Through his blood, God made Jesus the means of expiation for all who believe. (Romans 3:25)
5. With your blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. (Revelation 5:9)
Fourth Mystery: The Crowning with Thorns
1. The soldiers then wove a crown of thorns and fixed it on Jesus' head, throwing around his shoulders a cloak of royal purple. (John 19:2)
2. They came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly. (John 19:3)
3. Pilate had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews." (John 19:19)
4. He wore a cloak that had been dipped in blood, and his name was called the Word of God. (Revelation 19:13)
5. He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, "King of kings and Lord of lords." (Revelation 19:16)
Fifth Mystery: Jesus Carries the Cross
1. In the end, Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:16)
2. Jesus said to all, "If any wish to come after me, they must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
3. For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
4. Jesus himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
5. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)
Sixth Mystery: The Crucifixion
1. Jesus said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many." (Mark 14:24)
2. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. (Luke 23:33)
3. It pleased God to make absolute fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things in his person, whether those on earth or those in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)
4. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
5. "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself." (John 12:32)
Seventh Mystery: The Piercing of Jesus' Side
1. One of the soldiers thrust his lance into Jesus's side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (John 19:34)
2. This happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: "They will look upon him whom they have pierced." (John 19:36a, 37b)
3. Jesus Christ it is who came through water and blood, not in water only, but in water and blood. (1 John 5:6a)
Closing Prayer
Father, by the blood of your own Son you have set all people free and saved us from death. Continue your work of love within us, that by constantly celebrating the mystery of our salvation, we may reach the eternal life it promises. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
US Mission Center, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, 877-272-1870 Vocation Office, 1400 South Sheridan Rd., Wichita, KS 67213 - Telephone: 877-ADORERS (877-236-7377)(Copyright 2005 Adorers of the Blood of Christ)
