Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria

This is a lighter sangria for July, but one with some significant symbolism for the month of the Most Precious Blood. One of the ingredients, blood orange, by name makes it very fitting for a drink to remember the blood of Christ poured out for us. The other unique ingredient to this recipe is the pomegranate arils (seeds). Pomegranates in Christian art symbolize the resurrection and eternal life in Christ. It is fitting as it is through the blood of Christ that we might have eternal life.  As a summer drink, this recipe was a little hard to fulfill since both blood oranges and pomegranates are out of season.  But it is possible to find packaged pomegranate arils in the refrigerated produce section of natural grocers.  I also substituted the blood oranges for regular oranges and then used a bottled blood orange sparkling drink in place of the club soda.  These substitutions made it possible to still make a delicious sangria which included the symbolic elements of blood orange and pomegranate.

Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria

Ingredients: 
3 blood oranges (or other oranges if unavailable)
Arils (seeds) from 1 pomegranate
¼ cup brandy
¼ cup simple syrup
1 bottle dry sparkling rosé or white sparkling wine
1 cup sparkling water (use blood orange Italian soda if not using blood oranges as fruit)

Instructions: 
To make simple syrup, pour equal parts sugar and water into a saucepan and heat ingredients until dissolved. Cool. Juice two of the oranges. Slice the remaining orange into thin rounds, then cut into halves or quarters for garnish. In a pitcher, combine the simple sugar,  blood orange juice, blood orange slices, pomegranate arils and brandy. Let the fruit marinate for a few hours, covered and chilled in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, pour in the rosé and sparkling water. Ladle sangria and fruit into glasses and serve. Makes approximately 6 glasses.

Precious Blood,

Ocean of Divine Mercy:

Flow upon us! 

Precious Blood,

Most pure Offering:

Procure us every Grace! 

Precious Blood,

Hope and Refuge of sinners:

Atone for us!

Precious Blood,

Delight of holy souls:

Draw us!

Amen.

~St. Catherine of Siena