Red Mass

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In Israel and the United States we keep courtroom dress quite simple and modest.
 So forgive me if I got excited to see Sydney's law professionals in full regalia--17th century adornments, red robes and funny wigs!
The annual (since 1931) Red Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral on Monday.
The tradition can be traced back to France and England of the Middle Ages.

Here His Eminence Cardinal George Pell greets the wigged lawyers after the special Mass.
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"Red Mass is convened in Sydney at the request of the St Thomas More Society, for the benefit of all members of the Australian legal community, regardless of political or religious belief. It affirms, in a public and collegiate way, our common ideals of justice, dispensed without fear or favor. In their personal capacity [italics mine], it is attended by lawyers of all persuasions, including judicial officers of both State and Federal jurisdictions, solicitors and barristers, and the Attorney-General and shadow Attorney-General of the day."*

After Mass and morning tea, we all crossed the street to St. James', Sydney's oldest church, for the Anglican "Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication to Mark the Opening of the Law Term."

There I managed the courage to shoot a few stealth photos of the judges in scarlet.

Both churches were almost unbearably hot. People were fanning themselves with the booklet.

The horsehair wigs looked hot and itchy.

BTW, the ceremonial "full-bottom wig" with long curls reaching the shoulders costs over US$4,000.

The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Dr. Peter Jensen, asked the lawyers to rise and make this act of dedication:

"Creator God, in our various functions

in the legal profession and in the wider community,

we dedicate ourselves afresh

to act with discernment and balance,

with integrity and compassion

as we strive to faithfully serve in the administration of the laws and usages of this land,

that our system of justice may be upheld

and the values which underlie it preserved.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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I am not sure how to think about this very new-to-me mixing of church and state. 

Robed judges kneeling and all. . .

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Oh, and there will be a similar prayer service at the Great Synagogue on Friday afternoon, and also prayers at an Orthodox church.

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But, getting back to St. Mary's, I enjoyed this part of their explanation:

"The Red Mass is a votive mass of the Holy Spirit. It often commences with the ninth century hymn to the Spirit, Veni creator Spiritus ("Come, Holy Ghost").
 The red robes worn by the celebrants recall the tongues of flame which descended on the Apostles at Pentecost, filling them with courage and enlightenment. The colour red also recalls the blood of martyrs." *

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*from the booklet given us at The 79th Red Mass
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