by Fr. Todd Riebe
Fr. Todd Riebe’s Sermon on the Occasion of the Terre Haute Blue Mass
St. Patrick’s Church, September 11, 2024Our celebration of the Blue Mass gives us opportunity to thank, and to ask God’s blessing upon, the members of our community who protect and sere as police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, 911 operators, EMS personnel, sheriffs and sheriff’s deputies, and all who serve in the field of law enforcement and public safety.
The name “Blue Mass” comes from the traditional color of the police officer’s uniform.
The Catholic Church also celebrates a “Red Mass” for lawmakers, lawyers and judges, a “White Mass” for doctors, nurses, and medical personnel, a “Gold Mass” for academics, scientists, engineers and students f higher learning, and here in Tere Haute, a “Grey Mass” for those who – like me – are retired!
The tradition of celebrating the Blue Mass was started by policemen’s unions in the 1930s. The first one was at St. Patrick’s Church in Washington, D.C., in 1934, exactly 90 years ago. The intention was not only to pray for the living, but also to remember those who had given their lives protecting the lives of others.
This annual tradition gained new momentum – also here in Terre Haute – after the tragic events of 9/11 in the year 2001. That tragedy, whose anniversary we mark today, helped our nation to understand, appreciate, and revere the heroism of first responders. On this 23rd anniversary of 9/11, we hold in prayer the thousands of people whose lives were lost on that day and for the families that suffered loss. Let us take a moment of silence to honor their memory …
We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this year’s Blue Mass here at St. Patrick’s, and to express our gratitude to all first responders and their families, The Scriptures tell us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
- We have seen this love most perfectly in Jesus, and we see reflections of this love in those who risk their own safety to protect and save the lives of others.
- We see a reflection of this love in the police officer who kisses a spouse goodbye and hugs the children before reporting for duty, not knowing what the events of that day will bring, not knowing if he or she will return home or not.
- We see a reflection of this love in the firefighter who at the clang of the bell drops everything and in seconds is on the way to a fire that has placed a family in danger. While telling everyone else to stand back, the same firefighter enters the burning building to rescue the life of a baby, placing the baby once more into the welcoming arms of the mother or father.
- We see reflections of this love in the 911 operator who calmly reassures a frantic caller that help is on the way for a loved one who has suffered a heart attack or a stroke and comforts the caller until help arrives.
- We see a reflection of this love in the prison guard who, in spite of seeing the brokenness of humanity in the incarcerated, never forgets the God-given dignity of the people entrusted to his or her care and treats them with a dignity that perhaps some of them have never experienced before.
- We see a reflection of this love in the words and actions of the EMT team that arrives at the scene of a terrible automobile accident and begins to put order into chaos and brings assurance and hope to people in what is one of the worst moments of their lives, bringing them safely to the hospital.
There are times when the service of first responders is appreciated and lauded, as it should be – but there are also times when this service is ignored, overseen, or even disparaged. A police officer is called to a domestic disturbance and is met with gunfire. A state trooper pulls over a car on the highway that has been speeding and endangering the lives of others on the road and is met with curses and scorn. An ambulance driver navigates through heavy traffic on the way to the nearest hospital but is met with apathy or obstinance by drivers on the road.
In season and out of season, the men and women who have committed their lives to public safety are there for us. May they know that we are here for them as well. May they know that their service is valued by our community. May God richly bless all those who protect us even at the cost of their own lives.
I grew up on the north side of Terre Haute where I had the good fortune of attending Sacred Hert School, administered by the Sisters of Providence. The good sisters tried to instill many good habits in us. One of those good habits was that at the sound of a siren – be it police car, firetruck, or ambulance – we should stop whatever we’re doing and say a prayer for those involved. While I may have forgotten many things I learned in school I have not forgotten this! At the sound of a siren, I stop and pray. I urge you all to do the same.
May God richly bless all who have committed their lives to protecting the lives of others. My God keep all first responders safe, and may we see in them a reflection of God’s love for all of us. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.