Lawyers, judges celebrate Red Mass (Photos)

Seton Hall University School of Law held its 38^th Red Mass Celebration on Sept. 30 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.  

The Red Mass, in honor of all members of the legal profession, was celebrated by Father Nicholas Gengaro, S.T.B.,S.T.L, Chaplain, Seton Hall University School of Law.

In his homily, Father Gengaro spoke of the heart and how in Hebrew, it’s “where one thinks and makes sense of the world.” He commended the judges and lawyers and referred to their work as a vocation or calling, helping people in crisis, attempting to right their rights, and settling conflict.

“Promoting justice is bringing order out of chaos,” Father Gengaro said. “They have a calling to make the world a better place. “

The Mass honored Judge Michael A. Chagares, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Seton Hall graduate class of ’87. Chagares received the St. Thomas More medal at the end of the Mass, presented by Father Gengaro.

Seton Hall’s President Joseph Nyre and Seton Hall’s Dean Kathleen Boozang were also in attendance.

Thomas More was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, and best known as Lord High Chancellor of England during Henry VIII’s reign.

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. According to the St. Thomas More Society, it then spread to most European countries.

The tradition began in England around 1310 at Westminster Abbey at the opening of the Michaelmas term.

The first U.S. Red Mass was celebrated at Old St. Andrew’s Church in New York City in October 1928, the St. Thomas More Society website states.

Today, over 25 cities in the United States celebrate the Red Mass each year, including at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. It is attended by Justices of the Supreme Court, members of Congress, the diplomatic corps, the Cabinet, and other government departments, and sometimes, the President, according to the St. Thomas More Society. It is in honor of all members of the legal profession regardless of religious affiliation.

It is called the Red Mass because traditionally, the celebrant and the high justices wore scarlet, and university professors wore their red academic gowns. That tradition continued at the Basilica with Father Gengaro, concelebrants wearing scarlet, and Mass attendees also donning red.