Pro Vobis et pro Multis Effundetur

On this Feast of the Precious Blood, the words used in the Consecration once again signify the mystical body of Christ, as they did for past generations going back to the Last Supper. Last year and for the preceding 40 years they did not, for most English-speaking Catholics. In the traditional Latin Mass, our Lord's words continued to be used, but in most places the old Mass was suppressed, and a new Mass put in its place, and at the heart of the new Mass, new words of consecration were used that contradicted Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

I suppose the new words were more congenial to a generation that did not care for thoughts of accountability and judgment. At the Last Supper, our Lord prayed for all who accept Him and abide in Him, then or now (John 17). He did not pray for those who will not accept His words. The 1960s generation wanted to make Him say that He blesses all men, regardless of the choices they make. That generation is finally passing, and its error has been corrected. If the old Mass has not been restored to its place of honor, at least our Lord's words are restored, and the prayers of the new Mass have been translated more carefully to offer adoration to Him Who is worthy of all adoration.

From the Roman Catechism:

...Another reason why we call the blood of the Lord the mystery of faith is that human reason is particularly beset with difficulty and embarrassment when faith proposes to our belief that Christ the Lord, the true Son of God, at once God and man, suffered death for us, and this death is designated by the Sacrament of His blood.

Here, therefore, rather than at the consecration of His body, is appropriately commemorated the Passion of our Lord, by the words. which shall be shed for the remission of sins. For the blood, separately consecrated, serves to place before the eyes of all, in a more forcible manner, the Passion of our Lord, His death, and the nature of His sufferings.

The additional words for you and for many, are taken, some from Matthew, some from Luke, but were joined together by the Catholic Church under the guidance of the Spirit of God. They serve to declare the fruit and advantage of His Passion. For if we look to its value, we must confess that the Redeemer shed His blood for the salvation of all; but if we look to the fruit which mankind have received from it, we shall easily find that it pertains not unto all, but to many of the human race. When therefore (our Lord) said: For you, He meant either those who were present, or those chosen from among the Jewish people, such as were, with the exception of Judas, the disciples with whom He was speaking. When He added, And for many, He wished to be understood to mean the remainder of the elect from among the Jews or Gentiles.

With reason, therefore, were the words for all not used, as in this place the fruits of the Passion are alone spoken of, and to the elect only did His Passion bring the fruit of salvation. And this is the purport of the Apostle when he says: Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; and also of the words of our Lord in John: I pray for them; I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me, because they are thine.

Beneath the words of this consecration lie hid many other mysteries, which by frequent meditation and study of sacred things, pastors will find it easy, with the divine assistance, to discover for themselves.

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The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried by the fire, purged from the earth refined seven times.
Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve us: and keep us from this generation for ever.
Psalm 11:7-8

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Precious Blood,
Ocean of Divine Mercy:
Flow upon us!

Precious Blood,
Most pure Offering:
Procure us every Grace!

Precious Blood,
Hope and Refuge of sinners:
Atone for us!

Precious Blood,
Delight of holy souls:
Draw us! Amen.