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Blue Mass: Public safety personnel honored Byzantine-style
By Ambria Hammel The Catholic Sun
December 6, 2007
Emergency personnel generally jump into action when they arrive on the scene, but dozens of firefighters and police officers found themselves wondering what to do Nov. 20 when they arrived at church.
They were at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral to celebrate the 17th annual Blue Mass for public safety and emergency personnel. Even though most were Catholic, many seemed unfamiliar with the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church.
Bishop William Skurla, of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys, Calif. celebrated this year’s Mass.
“I think for most Catholics, it was a new experience,” said Fr. Phil Acquaro, a former chaplain for the Phoenix Police Department. “It was a good education.”
Before Mass, Fr. Acquaro told churchgoers that they would not hear any musical instruments throughout the celebration.
According to the Byzantine rite, Fr. Acquaro explained, “The only instrument fitting to praise God is the one He made: the human voice.”
Some of the officers and firefighters tried to sing and follow along, but many relied on their worship aid to guide them — telling them when to sit and stand and what to say.
Mass began with petitions and continued with three antiphons before the opening procession. Members of the honor guard from various agencies led the way.
During the homily, Bishop Skurla encouraged the emergency personnel to set themselves apart from the world like Jesus did. Otherwise, the temptation would be too great to save only themselves when in danger.
“The whole life of service is one that you give for Christ,” the bishop said. He challenged the law enforcement officers to be not only a people of justice and love, but also of order and peace.
Officers read the names of nearly 30 active and retired emergency personnel who died this past year. At least a dozen of them died in the line of duty.
This year marked the fifth Blue Mass for Margaret Lojas, a member of the Phoenix Police Department Honor Chorus and a St. Louis the King parishioner.
“There’s much more pomp and circumstance left” in the Byzantine rite, Lojas said.
That was noticeable throughout Mass. The deacon sang the Gospel. The liturgy of the Eucharist included a small procession of the gifts around part of the cathedral before bringing them to the altar for consecration.
Then Bishop Skurla prepared the gifts in front of the altar under the protection of a veil. Those who received Communion did so by tilting their head back while the minister used a type of spoon to place the consecrated unleavened bread in their mouth.
“The liturgy that we celebrate today is a taste of the kingdom of heaven,” Fr. Acquaro said.
In 1934, a Fr. Thomas Dade from of the Archdiocese of Baltimore formed the Catholic Police and Firemen’s Society while stationed at St. Patrick Parish in Washington, D.C. About 1,100 police and firemen dressed in blue uniforms marched into the church for first Blue Mass on the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of police officers, Sept. 29, 1934.
Since then observance of has Mass grown and is now celebrated across the country to honor the work of law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical crews.
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