ARTICLES

Red Mass brings recommitment to justice

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

Lawyers and judges in the Richmond area as well as law students were invited by Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo to recommit themselves to act justly and “be one who is called to heal the wounded” during the diocese’s annual Red Mass Oct. 24 at St. Benedict Church in Richmond.

“The vocation of law calls us as Christians to achieve reconciliation between parties struggling with differences,” Bishop DiLorenzo said from the pulpit. “Do you reaffirm your commitment to be one who is called to reconcile?” he asked.

“The vocation of law calls us as Christians to extend our special skills to the poor and to those not able to enjoy the freedoms bestowed on the more fortunate,” the bishop asserted, then asked those in the legal profession, “Do you reaffirm your commitment to be one who is called to serve the poor?”

Those in the congregation clearly responded “We do.”

The Red Mass was sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society of Richmond, a Catholic organization of lawyers and judges who come together regularly. The group meets together quarterly for Mass and a luncheon speaker, normally at St. Peter’s Church in dowtown Richmond.

The Red Mass is the liturgy of the Holy Spirit which is celebrated annually in October.

Its traditional name is derived from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants of the Mass in England symbolizing the tongues of fire which indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit.

“We are a group of lawyers, judges and justices who strive to live out our Catholic faith as we practice our profession,” Eric Gregory, president of the Richmond group and a member of St. Benedict parish, told The Catholic Virginian. A native of Richmond, he is an assistant attorney general with the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Father James Kauffmann, pastor of St. Benedict Church, was the principal celebrant of the liturgy.

Msgr. R. Francis Muench, Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Richmond, cited in his homily a letter written by John Adams to Thomas Jefferson in 1815 in which he shared a bleak view of their fellow American citizens. Jefferson, however, was one of the founding fathers who took a more positive view of human nature.

“Regardless of the form of government, they are all capable of tyranny because of our fallen nature,” Msgr. Muench said characterizing Adams’ view.

Although all people have some human imperfection, he suggested that Christians embrace service with humility.

“Let us see things as they actually are,” he said.

“All of us are students when it comes to the law of God. All of us are defendants when it comes to His court, but let us all be companions in serving the Lord’s justice.”

Children from St. Benedict School’s second and third grade attended the liturgy and sang the hymns and responses as well as Kyrie eleison in Greek.

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