What do you do when you’re fearful, worried or anxious? After identifying the source of my fears, I usually try to take some action. There might be a need for repentance, for inner healing, a change of direction, or counsel to alleviate the distress. But one thing I always do is to pray for the protection of the blood of Jesus. I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned about it as I’ve tried to “walk in the Spirit” over the years.

When I was first baptized in the Spirit, I remember singing hymns that honed the Name and the Blood of Jesus at our prayer meetings. The power of God was quickly made manifest when we proclaimed clearly and with conviction that we were gathered in the name of Jesus. What a wonderful freedom of worship we had when we asked for the blood of the Lamb to wash us clean. “O the blood of Jesus, it cleanses white as snow.” We sang it. We believed it. We experienced it.

I came to realize this truth: “Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in the regions above’ (Eph. 6:12). In order to do spiritual warfare, we need to be armed with the word of God, calling on the name of Jesus and pleading his precious blood. Not all the battles we fight are spiritual warfare; there’s the world and the flesh to overcome. But when I am bombarded by fears and anxieties, I’ve learned to take up “the whole armor of God,” including the power in the precious blood. I’m surprised when I meet Christians who don’t avail themselves of this practice.

A religious sister once told me how she was tormented by feelings of dread and foreboding with no apparent reason. She had never thought of praying for healing and deliverance through the blood of Christ. This may not have been the only way to combat her fears, but it was certainly a powerful means to do so. I shared with her how my husband, and I pray invoking the blood of Christ.

Every time we receive the Eucharist, we believe we are receiving the body and blood of Christ. As Catholics, this is the best time to appropriate the healing and deliverance Jesus has for us in his blood. What does Scripture tell us about Christ’s blood? The blood of the Lamb cleanses us from sin (I Jn. 1:17). The Blood gives us eternal life (Jn. 6:54). The Blood fills us with confidence to approach God (Heb. 10:19). The Blood sanctifies us (Heb. 13:12). The Blood helps us conquer the enemy (Rev. 12:11). What treasures are ours for the asking though the precious blood!

Al and I frequently meditate on these Scripture passages and pray the Church’s Litany to the Precious Blood. Every night Al prays with our children, “Lord, we place your precious blood upon the doorposts of our home to protect us from all harm.” Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from the angel of death, so does the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, serve as our protection when we appropriate it for ourselves and our loved ones.

In the Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena, it’s striking how often God speaks to her of the precious blood. The first time I read through the Dialogue of the Father’s words to Catherine, I began to underline every time the Father mentioned the precious blood of Jesus. It’s on almost every page. Catherine has even been called by some, “The Prophetess of the Blood.” The Father said to her, “No one need fear any battle or temptation of the devil that may come, for I have made you strong and given your wills power in the blood of my Son.” Priests are to be specially honored because they are the keepers of the keys of His blood. I would add that in this moment in the Church when priests need so much strengthening and spiritual support, we should invoke the protection of the precious blood upon them often.

Inspired by Catherine’s love for the precious blood , I’ve been led to invoke the blood more and more often in daily life. The words used to condemn Jesus during his passion have become words of love for me as I pray: “O Lord, let your blood be on me.” Instead of a judgement against me, I pray that the blood of Jesus be my protection and freedom. “O Lord, let your blood be on me and on my home. Let your blood be on me and on my children, and on my work, my car, my travels,” and so on.

Recently I was praying this way before a meeting to be held in our home. I rarely have any visual image when I pray, but this time I did. As I looked up, I was startled by the image of red blood dripping from the ceiling of our living room. The Lord’s voice deep within me seemed to say, “When you ask me to this , I really do it.” Never before had I seen the blood, but in that instance, Jesus wanted me to know the reality of his blood being poured forth for our protection. And, there’s power in the blood! Take up all the weapons of spiritual warfare the Lord has provided. Plead the blood of Jesus and be set free!

“To Him who loved us and freed us from our sins by his own blood, who made us a royal nation of priests in the service of his God and Father–to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen” (Rev. 1:5). © Patti Gallagher Mansfield, 2007, www.ccrno.org