Red Mass an occasion of 'community and solidarity,' Bishop Solis says

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

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At the Cathedral of the Madeleine Bishop Oscar A. Solis presides at the annual Red Mass, which this year was celebrated on Oct. 11.

SALT LAKE CITY — On Oct. 11, the Cathedral of the Madeleine welcomed to the 12th annual Red Mass many who serve in the Utah criminal justice system, including attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, clerks and secretaries, as well as first responder personnel and members of the military.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis presided at the ceremony. Father Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral, and Fr. Langes Silva, judicial vicar of the diocese, concelebrated. The Deacon of the Mass was Deacon Joaquin Mixco.  

In his opening remarks, Bishop Solis greeted those present and said, “We come together this day invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon your professions.”

The gathering was meant to express gratitude and respect for the service that all those present at the Red Mass offer to the people of Utah, the bishop said.

The annual Red Mass in the diocese carries on a tradition celebrated for many centuries, the bishop continued.

The tradition of the Red Mass began during the Middle Ages as a way for those in the legal and criminal justice professions to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in dispensing justice. The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245. The tradition spread to most European countries and around 1310 reached England. There, the Red Mass was celebrated at the opening of each term of Court and attended by all members of the bench and bar. The first Red Mass in the United States was celebrated in 1928 at the Church of St. Andrew in New York City, near the courthouses of Foley Square.

During his homily, Bishop Solis said the community was praying that day for “our brothers and sisters in the legal profession and in the judiciary, but in our city we include the police, the military and first responders too, so they can find stability and peace in and for our society.”

The Red Mass is a Church celebration, Bishop Solis emphasized, but acknowledged that not all those present are members of the faith.

 “It is inspiring for the world to see us gathering in the spirit of  community and solidarity in the midst of the polarization and division in our society and in our world these days,” Bishop Solis said.

“We ask for wisdom, knowledge and strength to carry on your noble profession as public servants … to carry it faithfully and responsibly in the midst of this world,” he said.

Bishop Solis urged those present to look to the Holy Spirit in their “courageous battle to uphold the law, in the struggles to defend the rights of the poor and the helpless, and in your commitment to safeguard individual and religious rights. In all that you do, the Holy Spirit will be your inspiration to be beacons of hope for the world and to be instruments of peace and harmony among the people. May the grace of God give you the strength and the joy of serving to build a civilization of love and peace in our world.”

In closing, the bishop, wished all attendees “God’s blessings, guidance and protection as you continue your work and profession. May the Holy Spirit fill your hearts always with his love. God bless you, and thank you for your service to our society.”