Precious Blood
Introit
Apocalypse 5:9-10
Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made us to our God a kingdom. Ps. The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever: I will show forth Thy truth with my mouth to genera-tion and generation. Glory be to the Father.
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His Blood; grant unto us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate (with solemn worship) the price of our redemption, and by its power be so defended against the evils of this life, that we may enjoy the fruit thereof for evermore in heaven. Through the same our Lord.
Epistle
Hebrews 9:11-15
Brethren: Christ being come, a High Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation: neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by His own Blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and of oxen and the ashes of a heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh: how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who, by the Holy Ghost, offered Himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? And therefore He is the Mediator of the new testament: that by means of His death, for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gradual
1 John 5:6-9
This is He that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. V. There are three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three are one.
Alleluia
1 John 5:9
Alleluia, alleluia. V. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. Alleluia.
Gospel
John 19:30-35
At that time, Jesus, when He had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing His head, He gave up the ghost. Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day (for that was a great sabbathday), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came: and they broke the legs of the first and of the other that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony, and his testimony is true.
Offertory
1 Corinthians 10:16
The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the Blood of Christ? And the bread which we break, is it not the partaking of the Body of the Lord?
Secret
We pray that through these divine myster-ies, we may draw near to Jesus, the mediator of the new Testament: and upon Thine altars, O Lord of Hosts, may we renew the sprinkling of that Blood which pleadeth better than that of Abel. Through the same our Lord.
Communion
Hebrews 9:28
Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; the second time He shall appear without sin to them that expect Him, unto salvation.
Postcommunion
We, who have been admitted to the holy Table, O Lord, have drawn waters with joy from the fountains of the Saviour; may His Blood, we beseech Thee, be within us as a fountain of water springing up unto eternal life: Who with Thee liveth and reigneth.