A few years ago when I was pastor of St James in Tupelo, I started the Blue Mass to honor the police officers and the first responders in our community. I have been really glad we have been able to continue that tradition here at St Jude, as this is the fourth year in a row we have been able to have a church service here in Pearl on the feast of the Archangels to honor our police department, fire department, and our first responders.
The Blue Mass has a wonderful history here in the United States. The first Blue Mass was celebrated on September 29, 1934 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, DC by Rev. Thomas Dade, who had founded the Catholic Police and Firemen's Society. On that day, 1,100 police officers and firemen dressed in blue uniforms, processing to St. Patrick's to honor the fallen members of their ranks. The Blue Mass began to spread to other cities in the northeastern United States. Following the events of 9/11 in 2001, the Blue Mass began to be celebrated in cities from coast to coast to honor the many law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty.
With the pandemic and social unrest in our country, our police and first responders are under a lot of stress and pressure. Today, we honor these men and women who are heroes in our community, men and women who put themselves in harm’s way daily to serve, protect, and defend us.
Today is the vigil of the feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the evening before their feast day of September 29. St Michael is the patron saint for police officers and first responders and the men and women in the military, which is why this feast is a traditional date for the Blue Mass. Our English word “angel” comes from the Greek word “angelous” which means messenger. There are untold millions of angels in heaven, all created as pure spirits, in continual praise and adoration of our God. I have been asked several times as a priest what the difference is between an angel and an archangel. Since ancient times, it has been believed that angels have different ranks and graces. It is believed that the three Archangels are at the highest ranks of the angelic hierarchy. In Scripture, in great events in salvation history, God has sent an “archangel” to proclaim an important message to his people. Often, when God wants to do something requiring courageous effort, he sends St Michael. Michael did battle with Satan and cast him out of heaven after he revolted. Michael is the head of the Heavenly Host, the Five-star General of God's Angelic Army. Michael is also the protector of Israel.
God has sent the Archangel Gabriel to announce something that would require strength from the meek and lowly. God sent Gabriel to announce to the Virgin Mary his plan for her to be the Mother of God. Raphael has been sent by God when a message of healing was needed. In the book of Tobit in the Old Testament, Raphael healed Tobit’s blindness.
With the angels, with the archangels, with the community of Saints, and with the parishioners of St Jude, we come together to praise God this evening. We pray for peace, reconciliation and healing for our state of Mississippi and for our nation. We pray for an end to violence, war, and terrorism, an end to anger, hatred, and arrogance, those things that divide us. Our gratitude, love, and prayers go out to those men and women who protect us each day. May St Michael and all your patron saints always be there to watch over you.
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