Originally held in 1310, The Red Mass marked the beginning of the Michaelmas (fall term) of the King’s Bench during the reign of Edward of England. It was an occasion of great pageantry and solemnity as judges, barristers and members of Parliament gathered to invoke God’s blessing and guidance on themselves and their profession.
All members of the legal profession and their families are invited to attend this occasion of prayerful petition and thanksgiving, regardless of religious affiliation.
At the conclusion of the liturgy, the 2010 Distinguished Judicial Award will be presented to the Hon. Patricia C. Williams, a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Eastern District of Washington. In addition, the 2010-11 Washington Judges Foundation Lawless Memorial Scholarship will be awarded at the reception.
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Does anyone else think this is an odd "religious" occasion? Does it seem proper to give out awards to political entities at a religious ceremony?
What is the significance of this being called a "Red Mass"?
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Michaelmas Day, the 29 th of September, properly named the day of St. Michael and All Angels, is a great festival of the Church of Rome, and also observed as a feast by the Church of England. In England, it is one of the four quarterly terms, or quarter-days, on which rents are paid, and in that and other divisions of the United Kingdom, as well as perhaps in other countries, it is the day on which burgal magistracies and councils are re-elected. The only other remarkable thing connected with the day is a widely prevalent custom of marking it with a goose at dinner.
(A goose for dinner? Sounds a bit like a traditional Thanksgiving, doesn't it? Well, my goose is cooked.)
Michael is regarded in the Christian world as the chief of angels, or archangel. His history is obscure. In Scripture, he is mentioned five times, and always in a warlike character; namely, thrice by Daniel as fighting for the Jewish church against Persia; once by St. Jude as fighting With the devil about the body of Moses; and once by St. John as fighting at the head of his angelic troops against the dragon and his host. Probably, on the hint thus given by St. John the Romish church taught at an early period that Michael was employed, in command of the loyal angels of God, to overthrow and consign to the pit of perdition Lucifer and his rebellious associates—a legend which was at length embalmed in the sublimest poetry by Milton.
Amongst Catholics, Michael, or, as he has been named, St. Michael, is invoked as 'a most glorious and warlike prince,' chief officer of paradise,' I captain of God's hosts,' receiver of souls,' 'the vanquisher of evil spirits,' and 'the admirable general.'
http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/sept/29.htm
