embers of the legal professions, public servants and the diocesan marriage tribunal were among the faithful who came together at St. Joseph Cathedral on Thursday, Oct. 23 for the annual Red Mass.
Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrated the 5:15 p.m. Mass with priests from the diocese and with the assistance of three deacons.
The bishop welcomed those in attendance and reminded them that they are called “not only to be ministers of justice but to go beyond justice to charity.”
He recalled the words of Pope St. Paul VI, who said, “If you want peace, work for justice.”
“So we gather this evening to pray for wisdom from on high, wisdom that will help us make just judgments, wisdom that will help lead us all into peace, especially at the beginning of this judicial year,” Bishop Fernandes said.
The Red Mass is a tradition that began centuries ago for the official opening of the judicial year of the sacred Roman Rota, which is the Tribunal of the Holy See at the Vatican.
The traditional name of the Red Mass is derived from the color of vestments worn by members of the clergy during the liturgy. Red is also symbolic of the fire associated with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
In earlier times, judges wore scarlet robes to the Mass. Today, some of the judges and magistrates attend wearing black robes typically worn in courtrooms.
The Red Mass in the United States traces its roots to New York City, where in 1928 the Guild of Catholic Lawyers met with judges and law faculty for a Votive Mass at old St. Andrew’s Church.
Since then, the Mass has continued to be celebrated annually at St. Andrew’s and in other cities across the United States. In Washington, D.C., U.S. Supreme Court justices, politicians, diplomats and other members of government have participated in the Red Mass through the years.
In Columbus, the Red Mass had not been celebrated for years until it was revived in 1985 by the Thomas More Society. The society encourages colleagues of all faiths to participate in the Mass and to pray for guidance in serving the citizens of Ohio.
“It’s a great opportunity for all of the attorneys, paralegals and judges in our community to have a whole congregation of people pray for the work that we do to be done well,” said Kim Shumate, president of the local Thomas More Society and a member of Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare Church. “And I think that the fellowship that we share both at Mass and afterwards brings us closer together and closer to Christ.”
This year’s Mass included an opening procession led by the Columbus Police and Fire Pipes & Drums, a Columbus Police color guard and attending judges and magistrates.
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Julie Lynch and Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Mary Kay Fenlon served as readers at the Mass. Shumate was an usher and presented the gifts of bread and wine to the bishop.
“The Red Mass takes place at the start of the annual judicial calendar and is a reminder to all of us to exercise justice and prudence, not only in the practice of law but in all aspects of our lives,” said Tom Rhatican, an attorney who is an associate director for education with the Catholic Conference of Ohio and a member of Columbus St. Patrick Church.
After Mass, a reception was held in the undercroft.