The Red Mass

• For the first time perhaps in our history the Archdiocese of Manila, through His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, is inviting national and local leaders to a solemn celebration of a Mass of the Holy Spirit for judges and justices, members of the Bar, law school professors and government officials at 9 in the morning on July 7, 2010 at the Manila Cathedral. 

• Following a tradition that dates back to the high Middle Ages, the Archdiocese is calling the celebration a “Red Mass” from the red liturgical vestments traditionally worn to symbolize the tongues of fire that descended on the Apostles at Pentecost.  Historical records indicate that the Mass arose principally in England and France.

• The tradition in England is said to have commenced during the reign of Edward I, about the year 1310.  In essence, the Mass was meant to call upon the Holy Spirit to grant light and inspiration to lawyers in pleading and to judges in adjudicating during the coming term of court.   It became the custom for the entire Bench and Bar to attend the Red Mass at the opening of each term of court.  The judges, who were all doctors of the law, wore the impressive red robes belonging to that office and attended the Red Mass in a body.

• In France the  Messe Rouge existed as custom dating its inception to 1245 A.D. But in 1906, following the modern tendencies of the French people, Parliament considered the ceremony to be offensive to their conception of liberty of conscience.  Thus a resolution was passed prohibiting the celebration of the Messe Rouge. During the Great War a temporary suspension of the resolution was obtained by the Paris Bar out of respect for the lawyers who had died in the battle for France and humanity.  Later the prohibition was revived and the Messe Rouge in France has once again passed into history.

• Today Red Mass is celebrated in various countries, among them Canada, United States, Australia, Ireland and Scotland.  Among the better known Red Masses is the one celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Matthew Apostle in Washington, D.C. on the Sunday before the first Monday of the October term of the U.S. Supreme Court.  It is attended by Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, the diplomatic corps, the Cabinet, other government officials and sometimes the President of the United States.

• Although the Red Mass is an old custom which was started for jurists of a community once a year to gather before the Altar of God to ask for the light and the strength which only God can give them to fulfill their high public responsibility, it is now offered also for the entire members of officialdom.

• The Red Mass has recently led to annual Masses for other occupational groups.  For instance, in the United States "Blue" Masses are celebrated for police officers and others engaged in public safety, as well as "White" or "Rose" Masses for doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals.

• It is the hope of the Cardinal of the Archbishop of Manila that the Red Mass will become an annual practice in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country.