Nineteenth Day
In the life of the Venerable Ann of Jesus, a companion of St. Teresa, we read that at communion her mouth was sensibly filled with very sweet blood, which flowed from the Host. St. Clare of Rimini’s holy and mysterious thirst was appeased only by the blood in the Host. Marcella Benci used to serve St. Philip of Neri’s Mass, and frequently saw the chalice full of blood. Margaret Beanne the Carmelite saw habitually the blood of Jesus in the souls of men; they were so beautified by it that she could not bear to hear any one censured because of the reverence she felt even for the souls of the wicked, for she saw them covered with the blood of Jesus. Sister Benedict of Egersheim after communion used to feel sensibly Our Lord’s blood flowing as a torrent down into the abyss of her soul, and burning away all the remnants of sin, leaving her a most pure vessel of sanctity. Such are some of the examples of the thoughts and experience of the saints in communing with the precious blood, which made them what they were, friends of God and intimate with Jesus Christ, the Spouse of their souls.
Prayer.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.