A HIDDEN TREASURE

Appearing to one of the sisters of her community shortly after her
death, St. Teresa of Avila told the sister that she would be willing
to return to a life of suffering on earth until the end of time if
thereby she could merit that degree of glory with which God rewards
one devoutly recited "Hail Mary." St. Paul speaks in like manner when
he says: "The sufferings of this life are not to be compared with the
glory to come."

If one short prayer is thus rewarded, what reward awaits those who
offer to the Eternal Father, the Precious Blood of Jesus. "An
offering," says Father Faber, is "More than a prayer." "In prayer we
are the recipients, but when we make an offering God vouchsafes to
accept something from us." In Our Lord's own words to Sister Mary
Martha Chambon, Apostle of the Holy Wounds, " To offer to the Eternal
Father the Sacred Wounds of Jesus is to offer Him His Glory, to offer
Heaven to Heaven." Each time you offer to My Father the merits of My
Divine Wounds," He said to her, "You gain an immense fortune . . .
You must not remain poor, your Father is very rich."

If you and I, at this very moment, were standing on the threshold of
eternity, we would see a limitless duration extending before us which
our vision would fail to terminate. Looking on this endlessness the
awful truth would come to us that the time of merit had passed
forever. The saints realized this truth while yet in life, and we can
see the vastness of their reward.

Those who have passed into eternity realize that there will be no
further opportunities for additional merit, for time has passed
forever. If regrets were possible in Heaven, unused opportunities
would be the cause, for the blessed know what greater capacity for
giving accidental honor to God they would have had if they had used
all their opportunities. Because of God's mercy they have no regrets,
but their status is sealed forever.

The position of the priest in heaven must be tremendous for he offers
daily a Victim-of-Infinite-Worth; and yet each one of us can offer the
same Victim in a different manner by sincerely saying:
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood
of Jesus."

Just suppose that if you were to make the seven offerings each day.
It would take only a few minutes of time, and yet the vast merit
gained would last eternally.

What an investment!

SEVEN OFFERINGS OF
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for the propagation and exaltation of my dear Mother the Holy Church, for the safety and prosperity of her visible Head, the Holy Roman Pontiff, for the cardinals, bishops and pastors of souls, and for all the ministers of the sanctuary.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Blessed and praised forevermore be Jesus Who hath saved us by His Precious Blood! Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for the peace and concord of nations, for the conversion of the enemies of our holy faith and for the happiness of all Christian people.

Glory be, etc. above

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for the repentance of unbelievers, the extirpation of all heresies, and the conversion of sinners.

Glory be, etc. above

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for all my relations, friends and enemies, for the poor, the sick, and those in tribulation, and for all those for whom Thou willest I should pray, or knowest that I ought to pray.

Glory be, etc. above

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for all those who shall this day pass to another life, that Thou mayest preserve them from the pains of hell, and admit them the more readily to the possession of Thy Glory.

Glory be, etc. above

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for all those who are lovers of this Treasure of His Blood, and for all those who join with me in adoring and honoring It, and for all those who try to spread devotion to It . .

Glory be, etc. above

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, Thy Beloved Son and my Divine Redeemer, for all my wants, spiritual and temporal, for the holy souls in Purgatory, and particularly for those who in their lifetime were most devoted to this Price of our redemption, and to the sorrows and pains of our dear Mother, most Holy Mary . . .

Glory be, etc. above

Blessed and exalted be the Blood of Jesus, now and always, and through all eternity. Amen.