Question

Dear Father Angelo,

I am writing to ask a question about the value of blood in religions: the Jews used to sacrifice animals to God to make atonement for their sins; pre-Columbian peoples used to offer even human sacrifices to their deities, thinking that this was the only way to placate them; the Muslims have the Feast of Sacrifice to commemorate Abraham, and our Catholic religion rotates around the sacrifice of Christ, who willingly shed His own blood for our sins. Why is it that blood is regarded so highly by religions, at least by Western ones? Apparently God needs blood to placate his indignation caused by human misbehaviours. 

Thank you for your attention,

Maria

Answer

Dear Maria,

  1. It is impossible to explain the value of blood in religions in just one reply. I shall confine myself to expounding a few usages of the Greek and Roman world and of our Christian religion. 
  2. Blood held a very important function in Greek and Roman religious life. Places and objects necessary for worship were usually sprinkled with blood. This ritual was performed for multiple causes; I will explain some of them.
  3. It was considered indispensable to ensure soil fertility, especially in the place where blood was poured out. This rite established a connection between blood and life. 
  4. Blood was shed also as a purification rite. Sprinkling with blood was intended to remove whatever kind of impurity and to restore the original purity to the object that received the sprinkling. Water was employed to purify as well. Sprinkling of the blood was primarily aimed to convey to man supernatural properties and to make him unassailable by whatever kind of impurity, because blood was regarded as a special element. 
  5. In particular, an exorcising power was attached to the sprinkling of the blood. It was thought to be able to cast away negativities, curses and evil influences. This way, the ancients meant to oppose evil forces. This was one of the most common usages. 
  6. In addition, the altar was purified with blood to eliminate any hellish influence. Very often this purification was performed by whipping a man and, sometimes, also a woman on the altar till they bled. This scourging was associated with the idea of augmenting fertility. 
  7. Ancient Hebrews, as well as ancient Eastern people, thought that blood was the seat of life. This explains the prohibition: “flesh with its lifeblood still in it you shall not eat” (Gen 9:4). Human blood had a particular value because man is created in the image of God.  His life (identified with blood) was considered sacred and whoever shed human blood was punished by death. 
  8. Killing animals and eating them was allowed provided that their blood was not eaten, because life belongs to God. 
  9. In order to prevent the blood of the victim from crying out to God (Gen 4:10), the killer would cover it with dust (Ezk 24:7). Animal blood was meant to be poured out on the earth and covered with dust, or, during sacrifices, it had to be treated according to ritual prescriptions: it had to be put on the altar and splashed on the sides of the altar (Lev 3:8; 17:10 -14).
  10. During sacrifices, it was blood that made the highest atonement: the entire life was offered to God. The Epistle to the Hebrews reminds that “according to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb 9:22). To ensure salvation for everyone Christ shed His own blood. 
  11. By shedding His blood, while making atonement for sins, Christ communicates His own life. For this reason, Jesus says: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:54 – 56). 
  12. Blood was employed to ratify covenants and alliances. Moses symbolically unites God and the people by splashing blood on the altar, that symbolizes God, and sprinkling blood on the people. Jesus seals the New Covenant in His blood. Whoever violates a pact sealed in blood is punishable by death. The notion of “mortal sin” derives from here: it is a sin that deserves death because it is the breaking of a pact freely sealed in blood. 
  13. It would be interesting to linger on the value of blood according to Saint Catherine of Sienna, but this would require too much space. 

For the moment, I will content myself with blessing you and remembering you to the Lord in prayer. 

Father Angelo

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