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Like several other churches around the country, St. Mary's Church in Albany was the site for a "Red Mass" last week to mark the opening of the Supreme Court's fall term.

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger celebrated the Red Mass, which was sponsored by the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese. A similar Mass had been offered the previous weekend at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C., with Supreme Court justices, the U.S. attorney general and scores of other judges, lawyers, law professors and diplomats in attendance.

The tradition of the Red Mass dates back to the 13th century; it's named for the crimson vestments worn at the liturgy and the robes of British justices. The first Red Mass documented in the U.S. was in 1928 at St. Andrew's Church in New York City; the Albany Diocese started offering the Masses in the late 20th century.

In attendance at St. Mary's for the Oct. 8 liturgy were several dozen parishioners and guests. State lawmakers, lawyers and judges had been specially invited to attend; several served as lectors and ushers and brought up the offertory gifts.

Bishop Scharfenberger, who holds both canon (Church) and civil law degrees, delivered a homily on realizing the gift and challenge of supporting the ideals of Christianity, particularly through the law.

"A lot of times when people think of lawyers, unfortunately, they don't think of God," he said. But, being in a church - particularly at a Red Mass - acknowledges that "there is a God and that we're not it.

"We need to be able to be aware of God's forgiveness," he continued. Everyone errs, but "we have a better self. We ask that, by being here, it be not only a testimony of what we believe," but also a reminder to act according to God's ideals.

Bishop Scharfenberger asked that Mass-goers in the field of law show "mercy, justice and integrity" in their work.

A message in the program for the liturgy welcomed both Christians and non-Christians and emphasized unity. The Catholic Lawyers Guild also offered spiritual support to Catholic lawyers and law students through guild membership and enhancing "the link between personal values and the practice of law." (Contact [email protected] for information on the guild.)

This term's Supreme Court docket includes many issues of concern to Catholics, including capital punishment and the Affordable Care Act's mandate that employers cover contraception in employee healthcare plans.[[In-content Ad]]

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