When Faith and Justice meet

When Faith and Justice meet
 
Red Mass will be celebrated on October 9, 6 pm at Corpus Christi Cathedral
 
Susanne Janssen
 
The Diocese of Corpus Christi will continue an old tradition, celebrating the Red Mass for the opening of the court season. Named for the red vestments used in court and at Mass (as a symbol for the Holy Spirit), it is an invitation to all those in the legal field to come together for Mass and a reception featuring Judicial Vicar Very Reverend Msgr. Douglas Courville will deliver the keynote on Faith and Justice.
 
The tradition dates to the 13th century. The first Red Mass is believed to have been celebrated in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245, and after that, the tradition spread throughout Europe. In the United States, the first Red Mass was celebrated in 1877. Today, many dioceses celebrate a Red Mass each year, with fellow Catholics in the legal community and persons of all faith traditions in attendance.
 
Very Reverend Msgr. Douglas Courville is a priest from the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana. He currently serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. What is the relationship between justice and faith? He explains, “Justice could be simply described as being in the right relationship with others. Hence, laws at their finest establish certain rights and procedures for the judication of differences and conflicts in a peaceful manner.” Courville continues, “Faith is also a right relationship—faith is our personal relationship with Christ Jesus, and consequently, we cannot live at odds with other people; we cannot live amid discord and hatred and say that we are people of faith.”
 
The Judicial Vicar will discuss this important topic, which is relevant not only for those in legal professions but also touches the lives of each one of us: “The pursuit of justice really is, without exaggeration, also the pursuit of holiness because it's the pursuit of living a life in harmony with God.”
 
The event on October 9, 6 pm at Corpus Christi Cathedral is open to the public, working in the legal field or not: “The Red Mass is for anyone who's curious and would like to see an ancient tradition being observed in modern times. Even for those with no faith, participating in the Red Mass is a sign of willingness to work together in harmony with people of all faiths or no particular tradition,” concludes Msgr. Courville.
 
Attorneys and paralegal professionals in attendance can earn CLE credit. The Red Mass will be followed by a reception in the foyer of the Wells Fargo Tower, 555 N Carancahua Street.
 
For more information and to RSVP for the reception by September 30^th, visit www.diocesecc.org/redmass.