By David Karas | Correspondent

In keeping with a 13th century tradition of celebrating a special Mass to invoke God’s blessing and the Holy Spirit’s guidance upon those charged with the pursuit of justice, a Red Mass will be celebrated in Monmouth County Oct. 2.

Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., will serve as principal celebrant of the Red Mass to be held at noon in St. Michael Church, West End. celebrant. Among the concelebrating priests will be Father John Butler, pastor of St. Michael Parish.

The Mass will be open to all, Father Butler said, as it is taking the place of the parish’s regularly scheduled noon Mass on Sunday.

“The Red Mass is important because it evidences, demonstrates, and celebrates the facts – that God and government, Church and state, are not mutually exclusive,” said Father Butler. “God is present and near in all walks of daily life, and especially in the pursuit and administration of justice.”

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “the traditional Red Mass…asks the Holy Spirit to guide all those who seek justice.” The occasion is a special celebration of the Eucharist “for judges, attorneys, law professors and their students, as well as government officials in the legislative and executive branches.”

“We humbly recognize the need for prayer and for the guidance,” said Father Butler, “and inspiration of the Holy Spirit as a ‘new court year’ commences on the first Monday of October.”

In Washington, D.C., the annual Red Mass marks the opening of the judicial term for the U.S. Supreme Court, and is typically attended by several Justices as well as other high-ranking government officials.

The Red Mass traces its roots to the Middle Ages, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and gets its name from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrant of the Mass, and represents the tongues of fire symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit. The color is also connected with the English tradition of red as the color of the academic robe or hood for those with law degrees.

According to the John Carroll Society of the Archdiocese of Washington, which sponsors the annual Red Mass in the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in the nation’s capital, the Mass traditionally takes place on the Sunday prior to the first Monday in October. The Red Mass originated in Rome, Paris and London centuries ago, and was first celebrated in the United States in 1928 in the old St. Andrew Church, New York. It has since become more common in diocesan communities throughout the country.