September 30, 2009

Annual Red Mass set Oct. 11

The Denver Archdiocese’s annual Red Mass is set for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. All judges, lawyers and law professionals are invited to attend.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., and Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley will concelebrate the Mass, which is organized by the Office of Liturgy. Judges are invited to vest in their judicial robes and participate in the entrance procession of the Mass.   Judges are asked to register with the Office of Liturgy at 303-715-3156 or by e-mailing John.Miller@archden.org.

The tradition of the Red Mass was begun by Pope Innocent IV in 1243 for the Ecclesial Judicial Court. The liturgy asks the invocation of the Holy Spirit as a source of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude and strength for the coming term of the court. The red vestments worn by the presiding celebrant signify the Holy Spirit and martyrdom.

Martyr St. Thomas More, a statesman, lawyer, judge and author, is the patron of lawyers. In April 1534, More refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy, which recognized King Henry XIII as head of the church in England instead of the pope. He was imprisoned for treason and beheaded in July 1535. His final words on the scaffold were:

“The king’s good servant, but God’s first.” More was beatified in 1886 and canonized by the Catholic Church by Pope Pius XI in 1935.