| Red Mass | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Red Mass at theVillanova School of Law (2012) | |
| Type | Mass |
| Orientation | Catholic Church |
| Scripture | Acts 2:1–4 |
ARed Mass is aCatholic Mass annually offered towards all members of the legal profession, regardless of religious affiliation:judges,lawyers,law schoolprofessors,law students, andgovernment officials, marking the opening of the judicial year. The religious service requests guidance from theHoly Spirit for all who seekjustice, and offers the legal community an opportunity to reflect on the power and responsibility of all in thelegal profession.
Originating in Europe during theHigh Middle Ages, the Red Mass derives from the redvestments traditionally worn in symbolism of the tongues of fire (the Holy Spirit) that descended on theApostles atPentecost 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 aProtestant tradition, such asEngland and Wales andAustralia, a similar church service is held to mark the start of thelegal year, with judges customarily wearing their ceremonial regalia.
The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral ofParis in 1245. In certain localities of France, the Red Mass was celebrated in honor ofSaint Ives, the Patron Saint of Lawyers.[2] From there, it spread to mostEuropean countries. The tradition began inEngland around 1310, during the reign ofEdward 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 atWestminster Cathedral.[1]
In the United States, the first Red Mass was held in 1877 atSaints Peter and Paul Church Detroit, Michigan, by Detroit College, as theUniversity of Detroit Mercy was known at the time. UDM School of Law resumed the tradition beginning in 1912 and continues to hold it annually. In New York City, a Red Mass was first held in 1928 at theChurch of St. Andrew, near the courthouses ofFoley Square, celebrated by CardinalPatrick Joseph Hayes, who strongly advocated and buttressed the legal community's part in evangelization.[3][4]
InCanada, the Red Mass has been celebrated inToronto since the mid-1920's. Its has been organized by The Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Toronto on an annual basis since 1931.[5][6] It was re-instituted inSydney, Australia in 1931.
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.[7]
InIreland, the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit (the Red Mass) is held annually on the first Monday of October, which is the first day of theMichaelmas Law Term. The ceremony is held atSt. Michan's Roman Catholic church, which is the parish church of theFour Courts. It is attended by the Irish judiciary, barristers and solicitors, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps,Gardaí, theNorthern Irish,English andScottish judiciary. The judiciary do not wear their judicial robes, although formal morning dress is worn. JournalistDearbhail McDonald has described it as "a grave, necessary reminder of the awesome powers and responsibilities of all those who dispense justice, including judges, lawyers, government andgardaí." A parallel ceremony is held atSt. Michan's Church of Ireland (Anglican Protestant).[8]
In thePhilippines,De La Salle University,Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, andother Jesuit schools, andHoly Angel University annually celebrate the Red Mass, which they call "Mass of the Holy Spirit." TheUniversity of Santo Tomas, theColegio de San Juan de Letran (Dominicans), and theSan Beda University (Benedictines) also celebrate the Red Mass, known asMisa de Apertura, that is followed by theDiscurso de Apertura to formally open the academic year.
InScotland, a Red Mass is held annually each autumn inSt. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral inEdinburgh to mark the beginning of the Scottish Judicial year. It is attended by Roman CatholicSenators of the College of Justice, sheriffs, advocates, solicitors and law students all dressed in their robes of office. The robes of the Senators are red faced with white.
One of the better-known Red Masses is the one celebrated each fall at theCathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle inWashington, D.C., on the Sunday before the first Monday in October (the Supreme Court convenes on the first Monday in October). It is sponsored by theJohn Carroll Society and attended by someSupreme Courtjustices, members ofCongress, the diplomatic corps, theCabinet and other government departments and sometimes thePresident 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]
JusticeRuth Bader Ginsburg, who wasJewish, 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.[9]
The first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated atSaints Peter and Paul Church (Detroit) in 1877, under the auspices of what is now theUniversity of Detroit Mercy. The tradition was resumed in 1912, and has been held annually since.[10] This Red Mass is the oldest continuously held in the United States. The better-known Red Mass in New York was first celebrated in 1928.[11] The first Red Mass in Boston was celebrated on October 4, 1941 at Immaculate Conception Church under the auspices ofBoston College Law School.[7] A Red Mass is also celebrated at St. Joseph's Cathedral in the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire,[12] at theUniversity of San Diego, and at theBasilica of the Assumption in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.[13] 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.[14] TheUniversity of Notre Dame ordinarily celebrates a Red Mass in theBasilica of the Sacred Heart each fall semester, at which thebishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend typically presides.[citation needed]
The St Thomas More Society for Catholic lawyers, founded in Sydney in 1945, holds a Red Mass annually.[15]
