SUBANG JAYA: The Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, commonly known as the Red Mass, is celebrated annually by the Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur to invoke the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to guide and nurture lawyers as they commence legal practice in the new year.

This year, the Red Mass was celebrated on January 29, at the Church of St Thomas More, the patron saint of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur. Rt Rev Sebastian Francis was the main celebrant, with Most Rev Julian Leow, Fr Gregory Chan, Fr Patrick Boudville, Fr Edwin Peter, and Fr William Michael concelebrating.

The congregation included 55 Catholic lawyers and their families, a Judge of the High Court of Malaya, foreign dignitaries, local politicians, and parishioners.

In his opening address, Bishop Sebastian reminded those involved in the administration of justice that the colour red, which represents the “fire of the Holy Spirit”, is also the colour of Love and Truth, and prayed those who stood on the side of truth be guided by the Holy Spirit.

During his homily, the prelate focused on the life and works of the German Jewish philosopher, Edith Stein (later canonised as St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), who was inspired by the scholastic, philosophy, and theology of several saints, including St Thomas Aquinas and the mystics, St Teresa of Avila, and St John of the Cross. The bishop said that during her life, St Teresa quoted, “Love and Truth – one without the other is destructive (at every level)” and emphasised that the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is described as “The Spirit of Love and Truth”.

Referring to the day’s Gospel, Bishop Sebastian reminded the congregation that just as Jesus calmed the storm, we must look to Him with repentance to calm the storms in our lives and embrace love and truth, which comes from the Holy Spirit.

After Mass, the President of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur, Godfrey Fernandez, said the Society celebrates the Red Mass annually to seek God’s blessing and to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Echoing the words of the founding president, the late Cecilia Fernandez, Godfrey said it is his fervent hope and prayer that the Society, as a body of legal professionals, continues to strive to build a community founded on the Catholic faith — a community that supports and encourages each other to grow in this faith and conviction to live out our faith in how we practice the law.

On behalf of the Society, Godfrey thanked God for His blessings and for being able to hold the Red Mass in-person for the first time since 2020. Godfrey assured the Catholic Community that the Catholic Lawyers’ Society and its members will always stand up for justice and uphold the truth. He added that with the recent gazetting of the Undi18 amendments and automatic voter registration, the Society will continue to hold talks on topics such as Electoral Rights and Responsibilities of the Citizen.

The Organising Committee also expressed its thanks and appreciation to Fr Patrick, his staff, and parishioners for assistance rendered while preparing for the Red Mass. — By Stanislaus Cross, Vice- President, Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Kuala Lumpur