The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted by Pius IX in 1849. By reminding us of the scene of Calvary and of the blow from the lance which pierced our Savior’s side, the liturgy of this feast is at pains to emphasize the meaning and tremendous significance of this fact in its relation with our salvation. The Gospel is that of the feast of the Sacred Heart, and the Epistle is from the Mass of Passion Sunday; both are concerned with our Redemption, effected by the Blood and the love of our Savior.