In Christian beliefs, the "Blood of Christ," also called the "Most Precious Blood," refers to the actual blood Jesus Christ shed during his suffering on the Cross. This blood is connected to the teaching that his sacrifice brought salvation to people. Some Christian groups also believe that the wine used in the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper, represents this same blood.

The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox churches, Assyrian and Ancient Churches of the East, and Evangelical-Lutheran Churches, along with some Anglican groups, believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. The Catholic Church describes this change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ as "transubstantiation." The Eastern Orthodox Church also uses this term, as stated in the 1672 Synod of Jerusalem and the Catechism of St. Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow. Evangelical-Lutheran churches teach that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, following the idea that the body and blood of Christ exist alongside the bread and wine, as explained by Martin Luther.

Other groups, such as Reformed Churches (including Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, Reformed Anglican, and Congregationalist traditions) and Methodist Churches, believe that Christ is spiritually present during the Lord's Supper. The Plymouth Brethren and Unitarians believe the Eucharist is a way to remember Christ's sacrifice.

History

In the early Church, believers received the Eucharist as consecrated bread and wine. Saint Maximus explained that under the Old Law, the people shared the flesh of the sacrificial victim, but the blood was poured out on the altar. Under the New Law, however, the blood of Jesus became the drink shared by all of Christ's followers. St. Justin Martyr, an early Church leader from the 2nd century, described the Eucharist as the same body and blood of Christ that existed during His Incarnation.

The tradition of mixing bread and wine continued in the Church in the East, while in the West, the Church practiced giving communion separately as bread and wine. In the West, only a small piece of bread was placed in the chalice. Over time, the practice of sharing from the chalice became less common because of concerns about spreading disease and the risk of spilling the wine, which could be considered sacrilegious. Eventually, the chalice was removed from common use or reserved for special occasions. However, the priest always received the chalice and drank from it, even if the people did not. This practice was one of the topics discussed during the Protestant Reformation.

At that time, the Evangelical-Lutheran Churches supported the belief that all people should receive both bread and wine during communion. As a result, the Catholic Church clarified that Christ is fully present as both body and blood in both forms of bread and wine. After the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church allowed all people to receive communion from the chalice at every Mass with a congregation, as decided by the priest.

Theology

The Catholic Church teaches that during a special ceremony called consecration, the bread and wine become the complete body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. This change is called transubstantiation.

In the 1400s and 1500s, people in Flanders, a region in Europe, had a strong devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ. This devotion inspired religious art, such as paintings showing the "Fountain of Life," which depicted blood flowing from the wounds of Jesus, often called the "Lamb of God." This image was linked to a famous relic of the Precious Blood in Bruges, a city in Belgium, which was first recorded in the 1200s. From the 1300s onward, special religious events in Bruges, such as processions called "Saint Sang," were held to honor the relic.

Several prayers are part of Catholic devotion to the Precious Blood. These include the Anima Christi, the Chaplet of Mercy of the Holy Wounds of Jesus, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

Evangelical-Lutheran Churches believe that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ. This belief is called the sacramental union. According to this teaching, the faithful receive the real body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist. This change happens when the priest says the Words of Institution during the ceremony.

Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that in Holy Communion, the faithful receive the actual resurrected body and blood of Jesus Christ. In Western traditions, the Words of Institution are seen as the moment when the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. However, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the change is believed to be completed by the end of the Epiklesis, a part of the ceremony. The Eastern Orthodox do not use the term "transubstantiation" but instead use the word "metousiosis" to describe the change from bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

In Eastern Orthodox churches and some Eastern Catholic churches that follow the Byzantine Rite, there is no separate devotion to the Blood of Christ apart from the Body of Christ or apart from receiving Holy Communion.

When receiving Holy Communion, clergy such as deacons, priests, and bishops receive the Body of Christ separately from the Blood of Christ. Afterward, the remaining pieces of the consecrated bread (called the Host) are placed into a chalice with the Blood of Christ. A liturgical spoon is then used to give both the Body and Blood of Christ to the faithful. This method is also called intinction.

Some Christian Fundamentalists believe that after Jesus rose from the dead, he took his blood to heaven and sprinkled it on a literal heavenly mercy seat as part of his work as a priest. They believe this act was essential for Jesus to save humanity. This view is based on a passage in the Bible where Jesus tells Mary Magdalene not to touch him, suggesting he had not yet completed this task.

Some Christians, like Robert Thieme, argued that the "blood of Christ" mentioned in the Bible is a metaphor for his death and that the actual blood of Christ is not important for atonement. This view caused controversy at Dallas Theological Seminary because other faculty members disagreed. John Walvoord believed that Jesus had to shed his blood to fulfill Bible verses like 1 Peter 1:18-19 and Hebrews 9:22. Robert G. Walter supported Walvoord’s view and said Thieme’s position was not in line with traditional Christian beliefs.

Artistic depictions

In early modern Italian art, the blood of Christ was a frequent subject. Paintings showing Christ on the cross or as the Man of Sorrows often included vivid images of blood. The blood of Christ was an important symbol in art, representing his role as a human and his offering of himself. This theme helped worshippers express their faith through art.