The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood in the Church’s Liturgical Calendar.

The Litany of the Most Precious Blood pays tribute to the blood our Lord both shed for us in His Passion and offers us in the Eucharist for our salvation.

It is important to remember that the host we consume at Mass is indeed the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ! (Although the wine at communion is “my blood of the new covenant” as our Lord put it at the Last Supper (Mark 14:24) the host as the body of Christ contains our Lord’s blood as well.)

The Litany of the Most Precious Blood was approved for public use in 1960 by Pope John XXIII, although devotion to the Precious Blood goes back centuries. Indeed, as Father Faber wrote in 1860 “the lives of the saints are replete with devotion to the precious blood.”

Apostolic Letter of Pope John XIII (English) | Inde a Primis (Latin)

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Covenant, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honour, save us.

Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.

O Christ, hear us. O Christ, hear us.
O Christ, graciously hear us. O Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood.
R. And made us a kingdom for our God.

Almighty and eternal God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his blood: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life; so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The image is reproduced from an altar missal published in Regensburg in 1935. The introductory text is reproduced from a number of sites including Cardiff Cathedral and Our Catholic Prayers. The litany was included in the pew-sheet for Sunday 2 July.