WHAT'S A RED MASS?

ALL RISE

Every year, the Sunday before the opening of the fall session of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC there is a Mass at Saint Matthews Cathedral (1725 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Washington, DC) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_St._Matthew_the_Apostle) for the purpose of blessing those involved with Justice in America. Five of the Nine US Supreme Court Justices in the US now are Catholic. Typically three or more of them come to this Mass, as do dignitaries from all branches of government and various Cabinet Secretaries and sometimes even the Chief Executives as well as Justice Department officials/attorneys of all levels.

This year the RED MASS is at 10:00 am SEPTEMBER 30, 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Mass

The Amazing News is that everyone, I mean literally everyone is welcome to come. But because the world is welcome to attend you have to show up early enough to get a seat or the Secret Service will have you cordoned off into some sattelite location. It officially starts at 10:00 am but the doors open at 9:00 and there is typically already formed a line around the block by that time.

The event is sponsored by the John Carroll Society (http://www.johncarrollsociety.org/) who puts on a brunch at a nearby hotel afterwards at which time it gives out awards for pro bono leadership of various individuals and law firms who contributed to serving the legal needs of the poor in DC through the Archdiocese Legal Network. Anyone can come to this as well for the mere price of the brunch ticket of $40.00 by calling 703-560-1042.

This year the Archbishop of Washington, his Excellency the Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, http://www.adw.org/about/lead_bio_wuerl.asp
is the Principal Celebrant who is hosting the Archbishop of Milwaukee, His Excellency the Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan http://www.archmil.org/bishops/ArchbishopDolan.asp to give the homily (sermon.)

This is a time where we have seen some major changes in the Administration of Justice with the resignation of Gonzales, so it seems a particularly appropriate time to invoke the blessings of God and His wisdom on the Judicial system.

If you can't come, we still need your prayers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFgKMxjGVT8&NR=1

St. Thomas More Prayer
"Lord, grant that I may be able in argument, accurate in analysis, strict in study, candid with clients, and honest with adversaries. Sit with me at my desk and listen with me to my client's plaints, read with me in my library, and stand beside me in court, so that today I shall not, in order to win a point lose my soul."