It was not coincidental to be gathered for the Blue Mass on the Feast of the Archangels Bishop John E. Keehner stated at the Mass celebrated Sept. 29 at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City to honor first responders.
Just as the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are heavenly messengers and spiritual guardians, the bishop said the men and women in uniform selflessly give of themselves.
“We honor our first responders - our police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, for the service they render in keeping us safe in protecting us from those persons and situations which would do us harm just as the archangels worked to protect us in accord with God’s plan of salvation,” the bishop said in his homily.
More than 20 first responders from the Sioux City area attended the Mass that has become a tradition at the Cathedral in recent years. As they processed into the Cathedral, they were led by the music of bagpipes and drums from the Sioux City Police and Fire Departments.
Bishop John E. Keehner processes into the Blue Mass held Sept. 29 at Cathedral of the Epiphany.
This year marked the first year with Bishop Keehner as the principal celebrate. Concelebrating priests were Bishop Emeritus R. Walker Nickless, Father David Esquiliano, rector of the Cathedral and chaplain of the Sioux City Police Department and Msgr. Ken Seifried, retired priest of the diocese and former military chaplain.
Referring to the first reading, Revelation 12:7-12, Bishop Keehner recapped that Michael – the defender - and his angels waged a battle in which the evil one was thrown down.
“The name Michael, which means who is like God, reminds us of our common call to holiness, our common call to conquer evil in our world, conquer evil in our lives in order to protect and defend ourselves and those around us,” he said.
Gabriel, whom the bishop said the name means God is my strength, was the messenger who announced to Mary that she would give birth to the savior of the world. This archangel serves as a reminder that God is among us, dispelling the darkness of the world.
“And Raphael, whose name means God heals, reminds us that no matter how our society is
Bishop John E. Keehner presides at Blue Mass with Bishop Emeritus R. Walker Nickless, Father David Esquiliano and Msgr. Ken Seifried as concelebrants.
wounded by sin, by crime, by human tragedy, we find healing not in ourselves or our own isolated efforts but in God,” said Bishop Keehner. “Raphael reminds us that God loves us.”
The mission of the archangels, Bishop Keehner said, is much like that of police, firefighters and other first responders who serve and protect the community.
The feast day, noted the bishop, reminds all Catholic faithful that they are called to sources of healing in the world, to be messengers of hope in a world filled with darkness, to be agents of change working together for the good.
“We honor those, who like archangels, run into danger rather than away from it like most of us do,” he said. “We honor them for their service, for their selflessness, for their care and compassion, for their willingness day in and day out to make our society better. But more than honor them, we must make their mission, our mission….working together to become instruments of light.”
Prior to the recessional, those gathered for the Mass prayed the Prayer to St. Michael. St. Michael is the patron of law enforcement officers.