Blue Mass

Last updated
Blue Mass
Police Week Blue Mass 2013 (8739375062).jpg
Observed by Catholics, Other Christians
SignificanceHonor veterans of the Public Safety field
DateVaries by community
First time1934

A Blue Mass is a Mass celebrated annually throughout the United States [1] in the Catholic Church for those employed in the "public safety field" (i.e. police officers, firefighters, correctional officers, 911 operators and EMS personnel). [2] The color blue relates to the blue-colored uniforms predominantly used by these services. [3] Similar to the Red Mass, the service honors those who have died in the line of duty and those currently serving as first responders. [4] The Mass is an opportunity for the community to show gratitude to first responders and their families. [5]

Contents

Background

In Washington, D.C., the service is held in conjunction with National Police Week. [5] Psalm 91:11, "For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service]," are often invoked during the service. [5] [6] Though usually held in a Catholic church, non-Catholics are generally invited to attend. [7]

The Blue Mass dates to September 29, 1934, [8] when Rev. Thomas Dade started the service as part of his duties with the Catholic Police and Fireman’s Society. [9] The first Mass was held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., and has grown to a nationwide celebration. [10] The September 29 service was timed to coincide with Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, the patron military saint of police officers and military. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mychal Judge</span> American priest and 9/11 victim (1933–2001)

Mychal Fallon Judge, was an American Franciscan friar and Catholic priest who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. While serving in that capacity he was killed, becoming the first certified fatality of the September 11 attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michaelmas</span> Christian festival

Michaelmas is a Christian festival observed in many Western Christian liturgical calendars on 29 September, and on 8 November in the Eastern Christian traditions. Michaelmas has been one of the four quarter days of the English and Irish financial, judicial, and academic year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael (archangel)</span> Archangel in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, also recognised in the Baháʼí Faith

Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha'i faith. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in 3rd and 2nd-century BC Jewish works, often but not always apocalyptic, where he is the chief of the angels and archangels, and he is the guardian prince of Israel and is responsible for the care of Israel. Christianity adopted nearly all the Jewish traditions concerning him, and he is mentioned explicitly in Revelation 12:7–12, where he does battle with Satan, and in the Epistle of Jude, where the author denounces heretics by contrasting them with Michael.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland</span> Latin Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction in California, USA

The Diocese of Oakland is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the San Francisco Bay Area of California in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archbishop of San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Michael the Archangel Church (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii)</span>

Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church of Hawaiʻi in the United States. Located in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, 75-5769 Ali'i Drive, coordinates 19°38′13″N155°59′28″W. The church falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Honolulu and its bishop. On June 17, 1839, Kamehameha III declared religious freedom in the Kingdom in the Edict of Toleration. A mission named after Saint Michael the Archangel was founded in 1840, the first Catholic Church on the island. The first services were in a small grass hut. Governor John Adams Kuakini gave the land South of Mokuʻaikaua Church to the Catholic mission in 1841. The present church was completed in 1850 under Father Joachim Merechel. He was buried inside the church in 1859. In 1940 Father Benno Evers constructed a grotto of coral from Kailua Bay over the site of the original well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome E. Listecki</span> American Roman Catholic prelate

Jerome Edward Listecki is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has served as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami</span> Roman Catholic archdiocese at Miami, Florida, United States

The Archdiocese of Miami is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in South Florida in the United States. It is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, which covers all of Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Firefighters' Day</span>

International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4. It was instituted after a proposal was made on January 4, 1999, following the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Church (New Haven, Connecticut)</span> Church in CT, United States

St. Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in New Haven, Connecticut, part of the Archdiocese of Hartford. The Parish of St. Mary consists of two churches: St. Mary's Church on Hillhouse Avenue, and St. Joseph's Church in the East Rock section of New Haven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Florian Church (Hamtramck, Michigan)</span> Historic church in Michigan, United States

St. Florian Church is a Roman Catholic Church at 2626 Poland Street in Hamtramck, Michigan. The church was designed by Ralph Adams Cram of the firm Cram and Ferguson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvatore Cordileone</span> American Roman Catholic archbishop

Salvatore Joseph Cordileone is an American prelate of the Catholic Church and the archbishop of Archdiocese of San Francisco in California since 2012. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Oakland in California from 2009 to 2012 and as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in California from 2002 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southampton, St. Louis</span> Neighborhood of St. Louis in Missouri, United States

Southampton is a neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. Located in the southwestern reaches of the city, its borders are Chippewa Street on the north, Hampton Avenue on the west, Eichelberger Street on the south, and South Kingshighway Boulevard on the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire</span> Church in Herefordshire, United Kingdom

Belmont Abbey, in Herefordshire, England, is a Catholic Benedictine monastery that forms part of the English Benedictine Congregation. It stands on a small hill overlooking the city of Hereford to the east, with views across to the Black Mountains in Wales to the west. The 19th century Abbey also serves as a parish church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollombi</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Wollombi is a small village in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is within the Cessnock City Council LGA, situated 29 kilometres (18 mi) southwest of Cessnock and 128 km (80 mi) north of Sydney. To the south is the village of Laguna, to the east, the village of Millfield and to the north, the village of Broke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church</span> Catholic church in Raleigh, North Carolina

Saint Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic Jesuit church located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Antony's Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur</span> Church in Kerala, India

The St. Antony's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church is located at Ollur, Thrissur city in Kerala, India. The church belongs to Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. According to rough figures there are around 4,000 Christian families in the parish. Because of the huge presence of Christian people in Ollur, with its religious, educational, medical, social-service, and secular organisations and institution, Ollur has been called as Chinna Roma. The church is constructed on a hill-top which is the highest location in the area. The church is surrounded by a huge protective compound wall called Elephant Wall. When Thrissur Vicariate Apostolic was erected in 1887, Ollur was the richest, most populous, and influential parish, so much that the Vicar of the Ollur parish were included in Adolph Medlycott's four-member diocesan apex council. St. Anthony's Forane Church has 18 churches under its jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Washington, D.C.)</span> Church in D.C., United States

St Patrick's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America. Established in 1794, it is the oldest Catholic parish in the city of Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael the Archangel Church, Chatham</span> Church in Kent, United Kingdom

St Michael the Archangel Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Chatham, Kent, England. It was built from 1862 to 1863 in the Romanesque Revival style, designed by Henry Clutton. In 1935, an extension was built, designed by the Frederick Walters and Son firm. It is situated on Hill's Terrace between Rochester Street and Maidstone Road, next to Chatham railway station. When built, it was the only Catholic church in Medway.

References

  1. "PR - Blue Mass - ST. DAVID OF WALES Roman Catholic parish—El Cerrito, CA, Richmond, CA". 2014-12-26. Archived from the original on 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  2. "Oakland police, firefighters honored at Blue Mass". Oakland North. 2014-10-14. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. Charnley Eveland, Annie (30 September 2014). "St. Pat's hosts Blue Mass for law enforcers". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin . The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  4. Wuerl, Donald (2014-05-14). "With Prayers and Gratitude: The Blue Mass". Cardinal's Blog. Archdiocese of Washington . Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Long, Carolyn K. (2011-08-05). "What is a Blue Mass?". Angels Over America. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  6. "20th Annual Blue Mass". St. Patrick Catholic Church. 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  7. "Showing gratitude for those who serve". Saint David of Wales Catholic parish. 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  8. "Blue Mass Honors Fallen Police and Firefighters". Colton City News. City News Group Inc. 2014-10-24. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  9. "Msgr. Thomas B. Dade, was pastor in Riverdale". Baltimore Sun. 1994-11-17. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  10. "LOCAL PARISH HAS "BLUE MASS" TO HONOR AND PRAY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS: POLICE, FIRE AND MEDICAL". Saint David of Wales Catholic parish. 2014-09-01. Archived from the original on 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
  11. "St. Michael the Archangel: Warrior and Protector", Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception