Red Mass Information
The Red Mass is a centuries-old tradition that marks the commencement of the judicial year. This convocation unites members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, and public dignitaries to ask the Holy Spirit for knowledge, wisdom, and fortitude in the administration of justice. The Richmond St. Thomas More Society has been sponsoring the Red Mass for the Diocese of Richmond for the past several decades.
The STMS Annual Red Mass
Honored Previous Speakers
History of the Red Mass
The history of the Red Mass, rooted in the intersection of faith and the judicial system, traces its roots back to the 13th Century. This tradition began within the Catholic Church as a means to officially open the term of the court across European nations.
Its earliest recorded instance occurred in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245, quickly spreading throughout the continent. By around 1310, the Red Mass had found its way to England and was celebrated at Westminster Abbey to inaugurate the Michaelmas term under the reign of Edward I. The Red Mass owes its name to the scarlet vestments worn by the celebrants and the scarlet robes donned by the Lord High Justices, a visual ode to the Holy Spirit’s fire and a symbol of the quest for wisdom and justice.
Across the Atlantic, the tradition was adopted in the United States, marking its beginning in New York City on October 6, 1928, with Cardinal Patrick Hayes presiding at Old St. Andrew’s Church. Its significance has only grown, with over 25 cities in the U.S. now annually celebrating the Red Mass, attracting Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish members of the judiciary and legal profession. The Mass is recognized for its inclusivity, welcoming all members of the legal profession, despite religious affiliation, to seek divine guidance for the judicial year ahead.
In Washington, D.C., the Red Mass, organized at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, is attended by Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and occasionally the president. This assembly represents the event’s historical and ongoing relevance, transcending a simple religious ceremony to become a moment of reflection and prayer for wisdom in the administration of justice.
The ceremony itself is tailored to its audience of legal professionals, with prayers, blessings, and sermons directed towards the guidance of the judiciary, invoking the Holy Spirit for wisdom, understanding, counsel, and fortitude. The Red Mass remains a symbol of the enduring symbiosis between faith and the rule of law and embodies the legal community’s collective mission towards the ideals of justice and equity, inspired by the moral and ethical legacy of St. Thomas More.