Sights & Sounds: Legal community seeks divine wisdom at Red Mass
On Sept. 26, Seton Hall School of Law welcomed faculty, students, and members of the legal community from across the Archdiocese of Newark and beyond to the 41st annual Red Mass. The liturgy, held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, was cosponsored by the St. Thomas More Society.
The tradition of the Red Mass goes back hundreds of years to medieval Paris and eventually spread to England. The first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated in 1928 in New York City. Seton Hall Law School took up the tradition in 1984.
The name derives from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants, as well as the red robes of judges in some European countries.
Auxiliary Bishop Manuel A. Cruz celebrated this year’s Mass. At the end of the liturgy, he continued another tradition by presenting the St. Thomas More Medal to Professor Denis F. McLaughlin and John Chiaia. The honor is extended to lawyers who “demonstrate professional excellence and embody the Catholic faith.”
The yearly Mass and award presentation serve as a reminder to the legal community to uphold the common good and, like St. Thomas More, to remain committed to justice even when that entails personal sacrifice.
You can view more images from the 41st annual Red Mass HERE.
Featured image: Seton Hall’s 41st annual Red Mass was celebrated on Sept. 26. (Photos by Sean Sime / Seton Hall Law School)
