Many of us are familiar with the annual Red Mass, celebrated for lawyers, or the Blue Mass, for law enforcement officers. Now comes word of another color added to the liturgical rainbow: a Gold Mass.

From the Catholic Standard in Washington:

Shimmering gold and red vestments accompanied by heavenly voices contributed to a genuine sense of reverence and prayer at the second annual Gold Mass offered Sept. 15 at St. Stephen Martyr Church in Northwest Washington to bless those working in the performing arts.

The entire Mass, except for the homily, was sung by priests, choir and congregation. The Schola Cantorum of St. Stephen Martyr Ð the parish’s resident professional choral ensemble Ð sung alongside the Kennedy Center Quartet and the St. Stephen Martyr consort to provide parishioners with a musical treat. Michael Summa, the composer, directed the evening liturgy’s music. The artists performed the works of Bach, Copland, Schubert, Handl, Rachmaninoff and Purcell.

The Church’s history of offering votive Masses for various professions Ð like the Red Mass for lawyers and jurists and the Blue Mass for law enforcement officials Ð led to the creation of the Gold Mass for those who work in the performing arts.

The Mass program explained that during the Gold Mass those gathered prayed to the Holy Spirit to bless artists. “As performers we are frequently called upon to bring nourishment and inspiration to audiences and classrooms,” the program stated. Each fall, the Mass is offered to pray for teaching, study and practice as well as a blessing of the Holy Sprit on various musical and theatrical productions.

The color gold highlights the association of artists with instruments, celebration and performance. In the Mass, gold stands alone or accompanies other colors on great feasts of the year like Pentecost, Christmas and Easter.

During the homily, Father Robert Skeris said art is a manifestation of humanity’s creative spirit.

“From a theological point of view there exists the analogy of the creation of God and the creation of the artist,” he said.

The priest said God is different than the artist because he does not need matter already in existence or tools to create His art. God is similar to the artist because He creates something that did not exist that way before.

“A causal connection [exists] between God’s creation and the artist’s creativity. Through the artist, God’s creation continues,” he said.

Father Skeris said about a month ago, a Franciscan friar asked Pope Benedict XVI about the artistic experience of faith, and the pope replied saying “‘faith and beauty are indeed connected … without beauty reason would be blind.'”

The priest also noted how Christian art is a “rational form of art,” because it is where “the heart and reason come together, (where) beauty and truth touch.”

Rick Moser, a supporter of the arts and a parishioner at St. Stephen’s, said art helps him understand Christianity better.

Another parishioner of St. Stephen’s, Harriet Pressler, said music is one of the most important parts of the Mass. “It goes back centuries,” she said.

Pressler said the Gold Mass was one of the most beautiful liturgies she has participated in.

“We (she and her husband) love good music. [During the homily] I felt like I was getting a real education, a lecture on the importance of the arts,” she said.

Photo: The Kennedy Center Quartet and the St. Stephen Martyr consort play music during the Sept. 15 Gold Mass offered at St. Stephen Martyr Parish in Northwest Washington to bless those who work in the performing arts.