Red Mass

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the Catholic liturgy for members of the legal profession. For the West Wing episode, see
The Red Mass
.

Red Mass
Red Mass
Red Mass at the Villanova School of Law (2012)
TypeMass
OrientationCatholic Church
ScriptureActs 2:1–4

A Red Mass is a

Holy Spirit for all who seek justice, and offers the legal community an opportunity to reflect on the power and responsibility of all in the legal profession
.

Originating in Europe during the

Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2:1–4). Its name also exemplifies the scarlet robes worn by royal judges that attended the Mass centuries ago.[1]

In many countries with a

Protestant tradition, such as England and Wales and Australia, a similar church service is held to mark the start of the legal year
, with judges customarily wearing their ceremonial regalia.

History

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. In certain localities of France, the Red Mass was celebrated in honor of Saint Ives, the Patron Saint of Lawyers.[2] From there, it spread to most European countries. The tradition began in England around 1310, during the reign of Edward II. It was attended at the opening of each term of Court by all members of the Bench and Bar. Today the Red Mass is celebrated annually at Westminster Cathedral.[1]

In the United States, the first Red Mass was held in 1877 at

Church of St. Andrew, near the courthouses of Foley Square, celebrated by Cardinal Patrick Joseph Hayes, who strongly advocated and buttressed the legal community's part in evangelization.[3][4]

In

Sydney, Australia
in 1931.

Red Mass today

The main difference between the Red Mass and a traditional Mass is that the focus of prayer and blessings concentrate on the leadership roles of those present. The gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel and fortitude, are customarily invoked upon those in attendance.[5]

Ireland

In

gardaí." A parallel ceremony is held at St. Michan's Church of Ireland (Anglican Protestant).[6]

Philippines

In the Philippines, De La Salle University, Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, and other Jesuit schools, and Holy Angel University annually celebrate the Red Mass, which they call "Mass of the Holy Spirit." The University of Santo Tomas, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Dominicans), and the San Beda University (Benedictines) also celebrate the Red Mass, known as Misa de Apertura, that is followed by the Discurso de Apertura to formally open the academic year.

Scotland

In

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh to mark the beginning of the Scottish Judicial year. It is attended by Roman Catholic judges of the High Court of Justiciary, sheriffs, advocates, solicitors and law students all dressed in their robes of office. The robes of the Lords Commissioner of Justiciary
are red faced with white.

United States

Diocese of Austin 2009 Red Mass Announcement

One of the better-known Red Masses is the one celebrated each fall at the

Cabinet and other government departments and sometimes the President of the United States. Each year, at the Brunch following the Red Mass, the Society confers its Pro Bono Legal Service Awards to thank lawyers and law firms that have provided outstanding service.[1]

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was Jewish, used to attend the Red Mass with her Christian colleagues earlier in her tenure on the Court, but later stopped attending due to her objection to the use of images of aborted fetuses during a homily opposing abortion.[7]

The first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated at

Basilica of the Assumption in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.[11] A Red Mass was first observed in Washington, D.C., in 1939 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It continued as an annual event there under the auspices of the law school of the Catholic University of America. It was held in January to coincide with the opening of Congress. In 1953 it was moved to St. Matthew's Cathedral, but continued to be held at the beginning of the year until 1977.[12] The University of Notre Dame ordinarily celebrates a Red Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart each fall semester, at which the bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend
typically presides.

Australia

The St Thomas More Society for Catholic lawyers, founded in Sydney in 1945, holds a Red Mass annually.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Red Mass". The John Carroll Society. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013.
  2. ^ "The Origin and History of the Red Mass". Tampa Bay Catholic Lawyers Guild.
  3. ^ "History of the Red Mass". Thomas More Society of South Florida.
  4. ^ John M. Swomley (April 17, 2002). "The Red Mass". Christian Ethics Today. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "The Red Mass - The Catholic Lawyers' Guild of the Archdiocese of Boston". clgb.org.
  6. ^ McDonald, Dearbhail (October 7, 2014). "Prayer for reformed judicial appointment process has fallen on deaf political ears". Irish Independent.
  7. TIME Magazine. November 16, 2009. p. 36. Archived from the original
    on November 9, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  8. ^ "UDM Law holds Centennial Red Mass > Detroit Legal News". www.legalnews.com.
  9. ^ "Here's Why People Are About to Pray for the Supreme Court". Time.
  10. ^ ""Red Mass", Diocese of Manchester".
  11. ^ "Welcome to the Archdiocese of Baltimore". Archdiocese of Baltimore.
  12. ^ Bains, David (September 29, 2018). "Red Mass in Washington". Chasing Churches.
  13. ^ Franklin, James (2022). "Catholic Action, Sydney Style: Catholic lay organisations from friendly societies to the Vice Squad" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society. 108 (2): 172–201. Retrieved January 2, 2023.

External links

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