The John Carroll Society presents The 73rd Annual Red Mass | 10/5/2025 |...

 

The John Carroll Society presents The 73rd Annual Red Mass | 10/5/2025 | Washington, D.C., USA



Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

Scheduled for Oct 5, 2025 #Catholic #JohnCarrollSociety #RedMass

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and The John Carroll Society invite you to join us via Livestream for the 73rd Annual Red Mass on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 9:00 AM EDT from The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in NW Washington, DC, USA. Robert Cardinal McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, will serve as the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. 

Before the Mass, at 8:40 AM EDT, Preeya Noronha Pinto, 2nd Vice President of the John Carroll Society, will detail the history of the John Carroll Society. 

Music will then be provided by the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle's Schola Cantorum choir, who will sing throughout the Mass. You can follow along with today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/reading... 

The Red Mass is celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, traditionally on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the opening of the Supreme Court’s annual term. Its purpose is to invoke God’s blessings and guidance on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials, and is a tradition that dates back many centuries to Rome, Paris and London. The name comes from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants and the color of fire, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 

Immediately following the Mass, The John Carroll Society will honor several individuals and law firms for their pro bono support of the Catholic Charities Legal Network. 

To learn more about the history of The Red Mass and The John Carroll Society, visit: https://www.johncarrollsociety.org/me...

The John Carroll Society presents The 72nd Annual Red Mass | 10/6/2024 |...

The John Carroll Society presents The 71st Annual Red Mass | 10/1/2023 |...

 

The John Carroll Society presents The 71st Annual Red Mass | 10/1/2023 | Washington, D.C., USA

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington


Streamed live 22 hours ago 

CATHEDRAL OF ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and The John Carroll Society invite you to join the 71st Annual Red Mass via Livestream on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 9:00 AM EDT. Bishop Juan Esposito, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, will serve as the Principal Celebrant and Homilist from The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, USA. Before the Mass, at 8:40 AM EDT, Liz Young, a John Carroll Society Board of Governors Member, will detail the history of the John Carroll Society. Music will then be provided by the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle's Schola Cantorum choir, who will sing throughout the Mass. 

View the virtual program here: https://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/si... 

You can follow along with today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/reading... 

The Red Mass is celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, traditionally on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the opening of the Supreme Court’s annual term. Its purpose is to invoke God’s blessings and guidance on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials, and is a tradition that dates back many centuries to Rome, Paris and London. The name comes from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants and the color of fire, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 

Immediately following the Mass, The John Carroll Society will honor several individuals and law firms for their pro bono support of the Catholic Charities Legal Network.

The John Carroll Society presents The 70th Annual Red Mass | Wilton Card...

 
CATHEDRAL OF ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE

The John Carroll Society presents The 70th Annual Red Mass | Wilton Cardinal Gregory | 10/2/2022

Scheduled for Oct 2, 2022



Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and The John Carroll Society invite you to join the 70th Annual Red Mass via Livestream on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at 9:00 AM EDT. His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, will be the Principal Celebrant, and His Excellency John Oliver Barres, Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, will be the Homilist from The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, USA. Before the Mass, at 8:45 AM EDT, Alexandra LaFrankie, a John Carroll Society Board Member, will detail the history of the John Carroll Society. Music will then be provided by the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle's Schola Cantorum choir, who will sing before and throughout the Mass. View the virtual program here: https://www.stmatthewscathedral.org/d...

You can follow along with today's readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/reading... 

The Red Mass is celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, traditionally on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the opening of the Supreme Court’s annual term. Its purpose is to invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials. 

Immediately following the Mass, The John Carroll Society will honor several individuals and law firms for their pro bono support of the Catholic Charities Legal Network. 

To learn more about the history of The Red Mass and The John Carroll Society, visit: https://www.johncarrollsociety.org/me...

On eve of huge Supreme Court term, a prayer from on high

Hundreds attend the annual Red Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in D.C. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)


By
Ian Shapira

Yesterday at 5:28 p.m. EDT

If any government entity needs thoughts and prayers these fractious days, the Supreme Court might be the most deserving.

On Sunday, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was the sole member of the Supreme Court to join hundreds of other Washingtonians at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle for the Red Mass, a ceremony typically held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, the opening of the high court’s term. The purpose of the ritual, which at the Washington cathedral dates to 1953, is to “invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials,” according to the event’s program.

The Supreme Court may need those blessings. On Monday, the justices will return to the courtroom for their first in-person session of oral arguments since the start of the pandemic. Their docket is explosive, to put it mildly: One case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, will ask the court to overrule Roe v. Wade to preserve a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Another case, backed by the National Rifle Association, is challenging a New York law that limits gun usage by requiring law-abiding citizens who want a permit to carry a concealed firearm outside their home to demonstrate a “proper cause.”

In political spotlight, Supreme Court embarks on extraordinarily controversial term

On top of the consequential docket, the court is mired in other volatility: In recent weeks, justices have been delivering public speeches against accusations of partisanship. (Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., nominated by President George W. Bush, said media and political commentary on the court’s emergency decision docket makes it seem like a “dangerous cabal” is making decisions outside the normal process.) A presidential commission is weighing proposals to change lifetime tenure for justices and even expand the number of seats on the bench. Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who is an 83-year-old Bill Clinton appointee, is facing pressure to step down so President Biden can replace him with another liberal who is younger.

And, if all of that weren’t high-stakes enough, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who has been fully vaccinated since January, tested positive last week for the coronavirus. In a statement Friday night, the court said he was showing no symptoms. He will participate in oral arguments by telephone from his home.

During Sunday’s ceremony, though, the particulars of the court’s problems were not aired inside the soaring cathedral. Instead, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, spoke in general terms about the need for “fraternity,” “justice” and “mercy.”

Caccia also lauded the Red Mass as a “powerful reminder that justice has to do with something sacred, and that those who practice its administration are at the service of something larger and greater than themselves.” At one point, he also cautioned, “Today, like at the time of Jesus, there is the risk to exploit justice instead of deliver it . . . if we do not place ourselves before God in this way, there is the risk to ‘use’ even God for our own ends instead of serving Him.”

In previous years, more justices have attended the Red Mass, which is named for the red vestments that are worn by clergy during the ceremony and that represent “the tongues of fire symbolizing the presence of the Holy Spirit,” according to the event’s program.

In 2018, for instance, Roberts attended, but so did Justices Breyer and Clarence Thomas. In 2010, then-Vice President Biden plus five justices showed up: Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Antonin Scalia — all of them Catholic — plus Breyer, who is Jewish.

After Sunday’s service, celebrants filed outside and chatted beneath the steps to the church entrance. The road had been blocked off to traffic. Bystanders stood outside taking photos, and protest signs were propped up on the sidewalk.

Jacob Thayer, 31, a federal government attorney from Alexandria, described himself as antiabortion and a supporter of the Second Amendment. He said he was not steeped yet in the details of the court’s upcoming cases but hoped that the justices’s eventual opinions “are rooted in law” and that they can “help bring us together.”

Chris Huff, a law student at Catholic University, said he believed abortion rights deserved a reexamination.

“Roe v. Wade is based on science from the 1970s,” he said. “We might have a better understanding of the science of personhood now.”

His girlfriend, Nicole Schaeffer, also a Catholic University law student, said as far as the abortion case goes, “I’m praying they make the right decision. But the chances of it being overturned are unlikely due to Roe being a precedent.”

Source

Mercy and fraternity are vital in administering justice, Red Mass homilist says

OCT 3, 2021 LOCAL

BY RICHARD SZCZEPANOWSKI

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, gives his homily at the 69th annual Red Mass on Oct. 3, 2021 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. The annual Mass that seeks God’s blessings and guidance on those involved in the administration of justice is sponsored by the John Carroll Society of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

Those involved in the “sacred responsibilities of justice, public service and diplomatic work,” must administer justice in a spirit of mercy and fraternity, the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations said Oct. 3, 2021 during the annual Red Mass celebrated at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

“Justice without fraternity is cold, blind and minimalistic. Justice infused by fraternity, on the other hand, never remains an abstract application of norms to situations; rather it is transformed into an attentive application of laws to persons we care about,” said Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who has served as the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations since November 2019.

“Fraternity is what makes it possible for justice to be perfected by mercy for all involved, since the restoration of justice is always ultimately the resolution of a ‘family dispute,’ considering we are all members of the same human family,” he said.

Archbishop Caccia served as homilist at the 69th annual Red Mass that was sponsored by the John Carroll Society, a group of lay men and women in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington from a variety of professions who participate in religious, intellectual, charitable and social activities.

The Red Mass is traditionally held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, the day on which the U.S. Supreme Court reconvenes after its summer recess. The Mass is offered to invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials, and is a tradition that dates back many centuries to Rome, Paris, and London. The name comes from the color of the liturgical vestments worn by the celebrants and the color of fire, a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, was the main celebrant of the 69th annual Red Mass on Oct. 3, 2021 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

Cardinal Wilton Gregory served as principal celebrant of the Mass. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Bishop Michael Burbidge, bishop of Arlington, Virginia; Bishop Paul Loverde, retired bishop of Arlington; Bishop Joseph Coffey, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA; Washington Auxiliary Bishops Roy E. Campbell Jr. and Mario Dorsonville; Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, rector of St. Matthew’s Cathedral; Msgr. Peter Vaghi, chaplain to the John Carroll Society; and several priests concelebrated the Mass.

Traditionally the Mass is attended by Supreme Court justices, members of the president’s cabinet, members of Congress, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and lawmakers, judges and lawyers and others involved in the administration of justice.

In opening remarks, Msgr. Vaghi noted that among those attending the Oct. 3 Mass were John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States; Denis McDonough, the U.S. Secretary for Veterans Affairs; John DeGioia, president of Georgetown University; John Garvey, president of The Catholic University of America; and deans and students from area law schools.

As per District of Columbia COVID-19 safety regulations, those in attendance at the Mass wore masks. They were also seated socially distanced throughout the cathedral. In addition, the liturgy was livestreamed via the Internet.

People pray during the annual Red Mass on Oct. 3, 2021 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. The Mass is held on the Sunday before the U.S. Supreme Court begins its session on the first Monday of October. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

Referring to the Mass’s Gospel reading from St. Mark in which the Pharisees challenged Jesus with questions about the law of Moses, Archbishop Caccia said in his homily, “Justice was being used as a pretext to challenge and condemn — or, we could say, to do injustice.”

“Today, like at the time of Jesus, there is the risk to exploit justice instead of delivering it,” he said. He noted “there is a logos, a reason, a logic built into us and into all of reality that is at the basis of justice,” and warned that “if we do not place ourselves before God … there is the risk to ‘use’ even God for our own ends instead of serving Him.”

Archbishop Caccia said that Jesus sought to lead the Pharisees from “the hardness of their hearts” and instead “place themselves in the presence of God with an openness to understand what is God’s plan.”

“Those who receive God and draw near to Him, draw near to His justice,” the archbishop said. “Without this humble attitude, we risk repeating what the ancient Romans expressed … Even just laws, they asserted, can result in injustice when unaccompanied by a just heart.”

Noting that the annual Mass was being offered just one day before the first anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’s encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” (“Brothers and Sisters All”), Archbishop Caccia encouraged lawmakers to “not only draw near as neighbor to those in need, but take responsibility for them as a brother or sister.”

In quoting the encyclical in which Pope Francis wrote, “Each day we have to decide whether to be Good Samaritans or indifferent bystanders,” Archbishop Caccia told those in the legal profession that “each day we determine whether or not we’re ashamed to treat others as brothers and sisters.”

Noting that everyone is on a “journey of truth and continual conversion,” Archbishop Caccia urged those at the Mass to remember that “every time we treat others as objects that we can ‘grasp’ and use for our own purposes, we lose them. If we, however, receive them as a gift, we can start a relationship that may last a lifetime.”

“This is the relationship that God envisages for us,” he said, “and we are called to embrace this revelation with gratitude and let it inform our whole life.”

Archbishop Caccia prayed that the Holy Spirit “will come down upon each of us and all those involved in carrying out the sacred responsibilities of justice, public service and diplomatic work,” and asked God “for the grace to grow in justice as His beloved sons and daughters.”

“As we behold Jesus, who was not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters, and draw near to Him not to test Him but to learn from Him, we implore divine assistance to become ever more just and fraternal in our relations with one another,” he said.

 

People bring up the offertory gifts at the annual Red Mass on Oct. 3, 2021 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

At native of Milan, Italy, Archbishop Caccia entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See 30 years ago. He has served at the Apostolic Nunciature in Tanzania, was previously the papal nuncio to Lebanon and the Philippines and was assessor for general affairs in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. He was named a bishop by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

“It is fitting to start the new judicial year with this request for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who gives us true wisdom and joy, and generously bestows his guidance on all those who turn to him with a pure intention,” Archbishop Caccia said.

He said the Red Mass “is a powerful reminder that justice has to do with something sacred and that those who practice its administration are at the service of something larger and greater than themselves.”

At the opening of the Oct. 3, 2021 Red Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, a Knights of Columbus color guard stood at the front of the church as the congregation sang the National Anthem. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

At the beginning of the Mass, a Knights of Columbus color guard marched down the aisle carrying the U.S. and Vatican flags. After the presentation of the colors, the congregation sang the National Anthem. During the Mass, prayers were offered for those who serve the public in federal, state and local offices; for those suffering from COVID and other health challenges; and for peace in the world.

Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory elevates the Eucharist during the Oct. 3 Red Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. At left is Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States who was one of the concelebrants at the annual Mass that seeks God’s blessings on those who work in the administration of justice. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

Also at the Mass, Cardinal Gregory thanked Archbishop Caccia for “the witness you offer in the name of the Holy Father.”

Just prior to the end of the Mass, the congregation sang “America the Beautiful.”

After the Mass, the John Carroll Society hosted a brunch and honored several lawyers and law firms for their pro bono support of the Catholic Charities Legal Network.

This year’s honorees were attorneys Joseph J. Kavanaugh, partner in the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP; Timothy P. O’Brien, a principal in the law firm of Joseph Greenwald & Lake; Angela Kuan and Theresa M. Hyatte. Also honored was the law firm of Baker & Hosteler, LLP.

Source

The John Carroll Society presents The 69th Annual Red Mass | Wilton Card...

Before the Supreme Court's First Monday Comes the Sunday Red Mass

John Roberts and his wife Jane (in gray dress) leaving the mass in the company of Archbishop Donald Wuerl (holding the gold staff.) Five U.S. Supreme Court justices attended the annual Red Mass in Washington on Sunday, listening as Roman Catholic clergy mourned the death of Justice Antonin Scalia and urged the judiciary to mete out mercy along with justice. Courtesy of Archdiocese of Washington

COMMENTARY

The Marble Palace Blog: Before the Supreme Court's First Monday Comes the Sunday Red Mass

This upcoming Red Mass may be historic. For the first time, seven of the Supreme Court’s nine justices are Catholics or have Catholic roots.


October 01, 2021 at 12:47 PM

4 minute read


United States Supreme Court

Tony Mauro 


Thank you for reading The Marble Palace Blog, which I hope will inform and surprise you about the Supreme Court of the United States. My name is Tony Mauro. I’ve covered the Supreme Court since 1979, and for American Lawyer Media since 2000. I semi-retired in 2019, but I am still fascinated by the high court. I’ll welcome any tips or suggestions for topics to write about. You can reach me at tmauro@alm.com.

By law (28 U.S. Code § 2) the Supreme Court convenes its new term every year on the First Monday in October—this time, Oct. 4. But in some ways, the traditions of the high court begin Sunday, the day before.

That is when the 69th Red Mass will take place at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in downtown Washington. Its aim, according to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, is to mark the opening of the Supreme Court term and to “invoke God’s blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials.” It’s called the Red Mass because of the red vestments worn by the dozens of clergy on hand.

The majestic cathedral and its soaring choir and organ music draw not only justices and judges but also law school deans, lawyers, diplomats, members of Congress, cabinet members and occasionally a president. Masks will be required, and the mass can be viewed on YouTube.



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This upcoming Red Mass may be historic. For the first time, seven of the Supreme Court’s nine justices are Catholics or have Catholic roots. They are Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr., Sonia Sotomayor, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. (Gorsuch grew up as a Catholic, but later attended Protestant churches.) The other two justices—Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan—are Jewish. They have ecumenically attended the Red Mass from time to time.

By tradition, the number or names of justices attending are not made public ahead of time. But two justices—Roberts and Kavanaugh—have strong ties to the archdiocese and have been longtime attendees. (The news that Kavanaugh tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday may complicate things.)

Roberts’s wife, Jane, is parliamentarian for the John Carroll Society, the association of professionals in the Washington area that sponsor the Red Mass. It also gives awards for pro bono legal services in the area.

Kavanaugh was an altar boy at the Little Flower Church in Bethesda, Maryland, where Monsignor Peter Vaghi, a lawyer, is the pastor. Vaghi is also chaplain for the John Carroll Society and is an active participant in the Red Mass.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the Washington archdiocese will be the main celebrant. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, will give the homily or sermon.

Years ago the sermons, delivered before something of a captive audience, were controversial because of their strident rendition of Catholic doctrine. The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously stayed away from the Red Mass after attending once.

In “Stars of David,” a 2005 book by Abigail Pogrebin, Ginsburg said of the Red Mass, “I went one year and I will never go again, because this sermon was outrageously anti-abortion. Even the Scalias—although they’re very much of that persuasion—were embarrassed for me.”

In recent years, the sermons have been more inclusive, spreading themes of unity and civility. In 2017 Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, giving the sermon, said, “There is a time for politics and a time for prayer. This is a day for prayer.”

Source

69th Annual Red Mass

Sun., October 3, 2021 · 10:00am

The 69th Annual Red Mass, sponsored by the John Carroll Society, will be held at the Cathedral on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 10am. Public seating for the Red Mass is very limited.

See the full schedule of Sunday Masses for October 3, 2021.

 
Red Mass (from the John Carroll Society calendar webpage)

The Red Mass is celebrated annually at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, traditionally on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, which marks the opening of the Supreme Court's annual term. Its purpose is to invoke God's blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice as well as on all public officials.

His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory
Archbishop of Washington
Principal Celebrant

Most Rev. Gabriele Caccia
Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
Homilist

To learn more about the history of the Red Mass, please click here.

Masks are required inside the Cathedral.

Source

65th Annual Red Mass 2017

OCTOBER 1, 2017

65th Annual Red Mass Supreme Court Justices attend the annual Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC.

Five justices attend Red Mass with homily addressing immigration, religious freedom

Five justices attend Red Mass with homily addressing immigration, religious freedom

Posted Sun, October 1st, 2017 7:15 pm by Andrew Hamm


This morning Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito attended the Red Mass, a Roman Catholic liturgy held annually the Sunday before the Supreme Court’s new term to invoke God’s blessing on those responsible for the administration of justice. The justices sat – by seniority, as always – in the first two pews at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington. Noel Francisco, the newly confirmed solicitor general, and Jeffrey Wall, the former acting solicitor general, also attended the mass.

The homilist for the mass, Jose Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles, indirectly referred to two issues before the justices this term – immigration and religious freedom.

In introducing himself at the start of his homily, Gomez noted that Los Angeles has the largest Roman Catholic congregation in the United States, which he described as an “immigrant church” with masses in over 40 languages. Although “the American dream is still a work in progress,” Gomez argued, “America is still a beacon of hope for refugees and all who long for freedom and equality under God.” “God doesn’t see color, the country we come from, or the language we speak,” Gomez preached.

Gomez also argued that “religious freedom is essential to America” because believers have led movements for justice and social change through America’s history – including movements for abolition, women’s suffrage, civil rights, farm workers, peace and the right to life.

Gomez is vice president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has taken positions on Supreme Court cases pertaining to both issues Gomez addressed. The USCCB filed an amicus brief in support of the challengers to the Trump administration’s entry ban in Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project, which Wall argued in the lower courts and which was recently removed from the justices’ October calendar. The USCCB filed an amicus brief in Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission supporting a devout Christian baker who claims that Colorado’s requirement that he create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violates the free speech and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment. Last term the USCCB also filed an amicus brief for the church in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer. In an opinion written by Roberts, the court in that case held that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ policy of denying grants to applicants controlled by religious entities violated the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

Gomez was not the only priest at the altar with involvement in recent Supreme Court cases. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, was the plaintiff in Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Burwell, one of the cases consolidated as Zubik v. Burwell, a recent challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s birth-control mandate. When he was still an attorney at Jones Day, Francisco was the counsel of record for the archbishop and the other challengers in that case.

The Supreme Court’s October 2017 term begins Monday at 10 a.m., with oral argument in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis.

Source

America needs ‘a new sense of our common humanity,’ @ 65th annual Red Mass homilist says

Kelly Sankowski


Sunday, October 01, 2017 6:27 PM




CS PHOTOS BY JACLYN LIPPELMANN

Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez delivers the homily at the 65th annual Red Mass Oct. 1 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in northwest Washington.

CS PHOTO BY JACLYN LIPPELMANN

Cardinal Donald Wuerl talks with John G. Roberts Jr., the Chief Justice of the United States and one of five members of the Supreme Court to attend the Red Mass, as they leave the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington.


During the 65th annual Red Mass in the nation’s capital, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez asked the Supreme Court justices, government officials, lawyers and other members of the judiciary gathered at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington to renew a commitment to a government that “serves the human person.”

The annual Mass, which is held the Sunday before the opening of the Supreme Court’s term, invokes the Holy Spirit upon those who are responsible for the administration of justice. The Mass is sponsored by the John Carroll Society, a network that aims to enhance fellowship among Catholic leaders in the Washington area and serve the archbishop of Washington.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl was the main celebrant at the Oct. 1 Mass, and the concelebrants included Washington Auxiliary Bishops Barry Knestout, Mario Dorsonville and Roy Campbell Jr.; Archbishop Gómez; Arlington Bishop Michael Burbidge; Bishop Richard Higgins, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA; and Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria.

The distinguished guests at the Mass included five members of the Supreme Court: John G. Roberts Jr., the Chief Justice of the United States; and Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, and Samuel A. Alito Jr.; and also U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco.

In his homily, Archbishop Gomez spoke about St. Junípero Serra, the newest American saint who was one of the founding missionaries of Los Angeles and was canonized by Pope Francis during the pontiff’s 2015 visit to Washington. By doing so, Archbishop Gomez said Pope Francis was making a point that “we should honor St. Junípero Serra as one of the founding fathers of the United States,” since the missionaries came here before the pilgrims and began their outreach before the nation’s first president was inaugurated.

An Intersection of Faith and The Law - The 64th Annual Red Mass

Justice, mercy are twin virtues for the law, Red Mass homilist says

Sunday, October 02, 2016 7:22 PM

Speaking at the annual Red Mass in Washington held just before the Supreme Court opens its session in October, Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis encouraged those involved in the administration of law to seek justice and mercy in their work.

“Those two virtues must intersect in our lives and actions,” said Archbishop Hebda, the homilist at the 64th annual Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. The Mass seeks God’s blessing and guidance on those who work in the law, including judges, diplomats, government officials and attorneys. The Mass was also attended by university officials and law professors and students.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, was the main celebrant of the Oct. 2 Mass, which was attended by five Supreme Court justices: John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States; and Supreme Court Associate Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, and Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Other government officials at the Mass included U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch; U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.; and Denis McDonough, President Obama’s chief of staff.

Archbishop Hebda noted that those present at the Red Mass felt the absence of Antonin Scalia, a Catholic who faithfully attended the Mass during his nearly three decades as a Supreme Court associate justice. Justice Scalia died Feb. 13 at the age of 79.

“He (Scalia) was someone who seemed to understand the necessity of exploring the connection between justice and mercy,” the Minnesota archbishop said. “In addressing law students at the University of St. Thomas in my archdiocese just last year, shortly before he passed away, he stressed the importance of their moral formation, stating that ‘the rule of law is always second to the law of love.’”

With that statement, Scalia was not showing a lack of appreciation for the rule of law, but he was demonstrating “a heightened appreciation for the importance of the law of love – and for the mercy that flows from it – in the practice of law and in the administration of justice,” Archbishop Hebda said.

Noting that Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Church to reflect on God’s infinite mercy and the call for believers to be instruments of mercy, the Red Mass homilist said the pope “has noted that mercy ‘does not approach “cases,” but persons and their pain.’” The pope, he added, has said, “Mercy gets its hands dirty. It touches, it gets involved, it gets caught up with others.”

Archbishop Hebda said this personal approach to sharing mercy is especially important for the work of law. “We need to remember that real people are at the heart of what we do and are affected by the decisions we make,” he said.

The Minnesota archbishop said the Church respects the important work for the common good carried out by government leaders and those who administer justice.

“Men and women of good will throughout this nation depend on you to protect their liberties,” Archbishop Hebda said, noting how Pope Francis during his visit to the White House last year encouraged public servants to build a tolerant and inclusive society that safeguards people’s rights and rejects unjust discrimination.

Gathering together to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the administration of justice is an appropriate response to facing difficult challenges, the Red Mass homilist said, noting that this year’s liturgy was being held “at this critical moment in our nation’s history, at this time when America seems to be almost paralyzed by a political polarization that impedes our ability to address effectively a whole host of pressing needs.”

Archbishop Hebda noted several contemporary problems “in a society in which shopping malls and discos and schools have all too often become places of unthinkable horror, at a time when old hatreds and prejudices seem to be rearing their ugly heads, or when our first freedoms are so readily put at risk…”

But he said that through prayer and action, people can take on the “privilege role as the hands of God’s mercy” to bring healing to the world, a work that people are called to do together, and then “we can – by God’s grace and the work of the Holy Spirit – do amazing things.”

Noting the importance of common prayer and mutual support, Archbishop Hebda said that can foster “faith capable of moving the mountains of despair and division, faith capable of pursuing justice while manifesting mercy, (and) faith capable of making a difference in our lives and in our communities.”

The Red Mass in Washington is sponsored by the John Carroll Society, an organization that provides spiritual, intellectual, charitable and social opportunities for Catholic professionals and business men and women in service to the archbishop of Washington.

The concelebrants included Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States; Archbishop Hebda; Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington, Virginia; Auxiliary Bishop Richard B. Higgins of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA; and Washington Auxiliary Bishops Barry C. Knestout and Mario E. Dorsonville. Twenty-one priests also concelebrated the Mass. After the Mass, the John Carroll Society presented Pro Bono Legal Awards to a law professor, two attorneys and a law firm who serve the poor through Catholic Charities Legal Network. This past year, the network provided $2.7 million in legal services to 4,100 clients through its 723 attorney volunteers and 65 participating law firms and solo practices.


Mark Zimmermann





CS PHOTO BY JACLYN LIPPELMANN Archbishop of Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl talks with John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States, as they leave the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle after the annual Red Mass Oct. 2. The Mass traditionally marks the start of the court year, including the opening of the Supreme Court term.





CS PHOTO BY JACLYN LIPPELMANN Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, talks with Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy as they leave the Cathedral of St. Matthew the ApostlE after the annual Red Mass Oct. 2. Also pictured is U.S. Justice Clarence Thomas at left.

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• John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States; 

Supreme Court Associate Justices

• Anthony M. Kennedy, 
• Clarence Thomas, 
• Stephen G. Breyer, 
• Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Note: 

Roberts, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito, all four are Roman Catholics; Justice Stephen G. Breyer, is Jewish, yet attends this annual Wahington D.C. MASS.   

The other Roman Catholic on the U.S. Supreme Court, not present at the Catholic event is Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The U.S. Supreme Court currently has Eight (8) Justices.  

It consists of Five (5) Roman Catholics, and Three (3) Jews;  

[Whether the Jewish Justices are praticing their Jewish Faith? 

I frankly, don't know].

Until earlier in 2016, there were Six (6) Roman Catholics on the nation's top court, until Justice Antonin Scalia's mysterious death during a Hunting Trip in TEXAS...

Arsenio

Red Mass 2014

By M. SCOTT MAHASKEY | 10/05/2014

Six of the nine Supreme Court justices attended the Red Mass on Sunday at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. The service is an annual event at which special blessings are given to the justices — and other politicos who attend — as the court prepares to enter a new term on Monday.


 


Chief Justice John Roberts is escorted from the Red Mass service by Bishop Paul Loverde of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington on Oct. 5 at Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. (Photo: M.Scott Mahaskey/POLITICO)
 
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Cardinal Wuerl Homily at Red Mass

THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REVIEW

 Cardinal Wuerl Homily at Red Mass

 IN ALL THINGS

 Donald W. Wuerl | Oct 5 2014 - 8:30am

 Sometime ago as I stood at the back of a parish church following Mass greeting members of the parish, a family approached and its youngest member, a boy of about 5, asked me, “Why do you call us brothers and sisters? You’re not my brother.”

 I said to him, “There is a sense in which we are all brothers and sisters because we are all members of God’s family.” He looked at me then looked back at his mother who was standing behind him. When she shook her head affirmatively he turned back to me and said, “Wow, I didn’t know that. That’s cool.”

 So much of what we know—almost all of it, in fact—comes from what we are told, what we learn from others. Education at levels from kindergarten through doctoral studies engage us in our own appropriation of the human experience from what other generations have sifted, distilled and passed on. That information helps form our vision of life.

 But we also count on other sources of enlightenment. One of these we know as inspiration—the gift that allows us to see beyond the confines of the moment. We also speak of insight as the ability to grasp the even richer spiritual dimension of reality. Then for some, there is the light of faith that brings with it a fuller vision.

 I am reminded of those inspiring and complex Caravaggio paintings that depict a scene illumined by a source of light that comes from outside it but is still intrinsic to the whole picture. We can see so much more in the interplay of shadows and light. In fact, it is precisely because of this contrast in shades of light that the whole scene in the picture takes on full and rich dimension and we see a greater meaning. All of us have this power, this ability, to see so much more, to see more than what is just physically present.

 All of this wider insight is what Isaiah the Prophet refers to when he speaks about the gifts of God, the gifts of the Spirit of God that are showered upon us. In chapter eleven that we just listened to the Prophet envisions “the one on whom the Spirit of the Lord shall rest so that not by appearance shall he judge nor by hearsay shall he decide.”

 This is more than a metaphor. One of the identifying qualities of human beings is the capability of recognizing more to what we see around us than is visible just to the eye. We realize an action of mind and heart, of conscience and inspiration that comes at times unbidden but forceful and impelling.

 Gerard Manley Hopkins, the Jesuit poet of the last century, spoke of the moments of insight in almost mystical terms when in his master work “God’s Grandeur” he saw the effects of the presence of the Holy Spirit, “Like shining from shook foil…” He went on to point out that our inner gift—the blessing of inspiration and intuition, of wisdom and insight is because “the Holy Ghost over the bent world broods with warm breast and with, ah! bright wings.”

 The scriptures are ripe with stories of those whose lives were completely transformed by the working of the Spirit within them. The response of Abram to the voice of God that called him to set out to a new land and become the father of a great nation was the movement of the Spirit.

 Moses recognizes, as he stands on hallowed ground before the burning bush, that it is the Spirit of God touching him. He even dares to ask his name. On another occasion, after another encounter, he comes down from the mountain, his face aglow, holding the Tablets of the Law and burning within from that same Spirit.

 When Samuel anointed David as the future ruler of Israel, we read in Sacred Scripture that, “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (1 Samuel 16:13). In the sacred texts cited here the gift appears as God’s decisive intervention in history and in individual lives. It is profoundly influential in the events that follow.

 Of the figures who bridge the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament, none is more prominent than John the Baptist. His very coming is recognized through the power of the Spirit.

 He is nurtured in the Spirit and retreats into the desert lead by the Spirit so that he might be completely transformed in the power of the Spirit. Clearly the most dramatic example of being enveloped by the Spirit—being anointed in the Holy Spirit—is Jesus stepping into the Jordan as the heavens opened and the Spirit in the form of a dove comes over him with the voice announcing, “This is my beloved Son, hear him.” (Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:22)

 How do we experience that same outpouring? In what way is the Spirit present to us? The answer to that question is why we are here and why we come every year to the Red Mass. We know that we need, and so we ask for, the gifts of insight, inspiration, of right judgment, of wisdom—gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 Here again we turn to Isaiah, where we find one list of them. This is the same enumeration that is prayed for at every celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation. It is one of the standard questions I ask knowing that every youthful candidate for the sacrament has been told that’s what I ask. And so they, as you and I, can name the gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear or reverence of the Lord.

 One of these gifts is knowledge. Here we ask to be able to reflect on what we apprehend so that we can come to know more than just what we can hear or taste or touch. We pray for the ability to discern the right path—the ability to reflect so that we can learn from what we have experienced. As my little interlocutor exclaimed with new appreciation and awareness of fresh insight, “I didn’t know that!”

 We also pray for the Spirit of understanding—discernment—the sweet gift of the awareness of enlightenment. This is the gift that helps us decide our future steps. The Second Vatican Council spoke of this gift as the ability “to read the signs of the times.” Pope Francis describes it as a grace that only the Holy Spirit can infuse and which awakens “the ability to go beyond the outward appearance of reality…” It allows us according to its etymology to “intus legere”—“to read into.” The Spirit of discernment is that quiet voice within us that helps us sort out the various options and claims on our heart and on our actions.

 We invoke as well the Spirit of piety—of a sense of wonder and awe, an awareness of God’s closeness. This is the silent assurance that prompts us to have confidence that we stand on sacred ground when we open our hearts to the Spirit in prayer. For some this is the reason for the so called “Francis effect”. The Pope’s ability to mirror God’s love for all people seems to call forth a positive reaction in so many people. His confidence in the Gospel message brings forth the best in people of all faiths.

 Courage or fortitude is another of the gifts of the Spirit. It is the blessing we seek in times of trial, of travail, of difficulty. It allows us to recognize what we should do if we are to be faithful to the Spirit within us. This is the claim of conscience on us to do what we ought to do, not just what we can do. It seems all the more appropriate to note and pray for the gift of counsel at a Red Mass. This is the gift that enables us to see and choose correctly what will redound to the glory of God and our own salvation.

 Then there is the magnificent gift of wisdom. In fact, Holy Wisdom, Sancta Sophia, Hagia Sofia is the very personification of God’s presence and providential guidance of all creation. Of all the gifts we invoke, we look to wisdom to be able to be at peace with ourselves, our choices, our life. It is the wisdom of God that fills up what is lacking in our limited understanding. It is wisdom that allows us to “savor” the things of God.

 Again we turn to Pope Francis who tells us that this is the first gift—in the traditional listing of these blessings of the Holy Spirit. It is the gift Solomon said he wished to receive beyond wealth, success, fame or even a long and happy life. He pleaded for “the grace to see everything with the eyes of God.”

 The beauty and insight of poetry is much like the grace of wisdom. It sees so much more. Elders were always held in such respect in generations past precisely because more than the accumulation of facts they had acquired wisdom. It is the gift we hope to see reflected in our leaders, judges, confessors, spiritual directors and parents.

In concluding these few thoughts on the Holy Spirit, it is important to note that probably the most significant cumulative effect of all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the power to change, to transform, to make new, to heal—or as we pray, “to renew the face of the Earth.”

 Unlike the youngster who excitedly exclaimed, “I didn’t know that,” we are here because we stand in both the conviction and expectation that it is possible to make a better world.

 We begin so many great public events, including the inauguration of a president, the opening of Congress, or the beginning of the judicial year, by recognizing the presence and power of God and at the same time what we are all capable of accomplishing with the grace of God.

 Today then all of our invocation is directed to that power of God, that presence of the Spirit, those gifts of God working within us, that inner light that illumines our pathway together as we make sense of the human condition. No wonder then we pray—with confidence—“Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.”

 2014 Red Mass Homily by His Eminence Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle Washington, D.C.
Sunday, October 5, 2014

Cardinal Wuerl is in Rome for the Synod of Bishops on the family. His homily was read by Msgr. Peter Vaghi. 

PHOTO: Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington and U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts talk last October as they depart the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington following the annual Red Mass in 2013. The Mass traditionally marks the start of the court year, including the opening of the Supreme Court term. (CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters)

 Copyright © 2014 America Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Source: http://americamagazine.org/content/all-things/cardinal-wuerl-homily-red-mass

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62nd Annual Red Mass

Sun., October 5, 2014 10:00am ·

The 62nd Annual Red Mass will be held at the Cathedral on Sunday, October 5 at 10am. The John Carroll Society hosts the Red Mass for its members and guests, including many government officials with attendant security. It is open to the public, but attendance is very high. If you normally attend the 10am Mass, you may wish to consider attending another Mass that weekend. Please note that the 8:30am Mass is cancelled that day. If you plan to attend the Red Mass, please arrive early as the fire marshal will not allow entry once the Cathedral is filled to capacity. Thank you for helping us extend the Cathedral’s hospitality to the John Carroll Society for this celebration.





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FYI: 

The Cathedral is located at 1725 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., just off the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, and M Street. It is near the Farragut North and Dupont Circle Metrorail stations and about four blocks from the White House.

http://www.stmatthewscathedral.org/contact/location
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In divided D.C. for Red Mass, Dallas bishop Kevin Farrell urges respect amid differences

By Michael Lindenberger
mlindenberger@dallasnews.com
4:19 pm on October 6, 2013 | Permalink



U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, center right, talks with clergy (including Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell, left) after the Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington Sunday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON — The catholic bishop of Dallas stepped into the very divided political atmosphere in this city Sunday morning, giving the homily at the annual Red Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. (Read the homily here.)

Bishop Kevin Farrell‘s sermon focused on the power of the Holy Spirit to bring divided peoples together, using wisdom as a bring to overcome divides.

“Petty partisanship and ever-politicizing rhetoric should have no place at all when men and women of goodwill come together to serve the common good,” he said at the annual mass, where traditionally the Church prays for the Supreme Court, whose new term starts next week. A majority of the sitting justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, attended the mass.

Farrell stressed that debate requires respect for the other side in every argument, but does not require agreement. Echoing comments made by Pope Francis in Rome recently, Farrell also said his church must be careful not to heap scorn on those who do not accept its teachings — a lesson that appeared to apply to political figures in Washington as well.

We believe in the dignity of each and every human being made in the image and likeness of God. We may disagree. But there can be no place for derision or smugness. Especially at this time of particular polarizations, we need to be reminded that we Catholics have every right to register what we believe in the public square and do it with pride and conviction. However, in a pluralistic society, we also need to be respectful of those who do not agree with or follow our teachings.

If dialogue means anything, it means not only that we take another seriously but it means that we revere the other as a fellow human being with gifts and talents from God. If honest and respectful dialogue means anything, it means that we need to strike a balance in our words and rhetoric so that conviction should never become stridency and saying things with commitment should never become caricaturing anyone else’s positions or beliefs.

He spoke with pride of the church’s commitment to the poor and to immigrants. Without explicitly referencing immigration reform, now stalled due to the government shut down and before that the debate over Syria, Farrell spoke out for embracing newcomers to this country. He cited the example of church of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in D.C.

“The parish also does what so many parishes do today. They welcome the stranger in our midst in new and ever-changing circumstances. The immigrants who built the church building and the immigrants who populate the church today had and have different needs. The languages spoken are many, and it is from the many languages that we and they offer praise and thanks to God for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness on these shores. There may be many languages spoken on the Fourteenth Street corridor but there is among so very many a common purpose; many languages yet a common purpose to better themselves and the lives of their families and the nation where they have made their home. The history of our nation is a living proof of this common goal.”

The history of the Red Mass dates to 13th Century France, Farrell said, and takes its name from the red vestments the priests wear in recollection of the Holy Spirit, who is said to have descended upon believers with tongues of fire.

Farrell has been bishop of Dallas since March, 2007, when he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.

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Related

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I At cathedral's Red Mass, bishop warns against 'petty partisanship'
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Supreme Court Justices attend annual Red Mass

Sep. 30, 2012 1:00 PM ET

By STACY A. ANDERSON, Associated Press  

Cardinal Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl, bottom center, speaks with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, left, as Justices Elena Kagan, center right, and Stephen Breyer, top right, all talk on the steps of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle after the 60th annual Red Mass at in Washington on Sunday Sept. 30, 2012. The Red Mass is held traditionally in Washington the day before the Supreme Court’s new term opens. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American archbishop has reminded a congregation that included six Supreme Court justices Sunday to be open to the spirit of God, beg for his blessings and "strive to be instruments of a new evangelization."

The Archdiocese of Washington says Justices John Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Elena Kagan, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Stephen Breyer were at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle for Red Mass, celebrated the Sunday before the Supreme Court begins its new term.

The Most Rev. Timothy Broglio, archbishop for the military services, said the Mass was also "a moment to pause and pray for those who serve our country and foster justice for all."

The John Carroll Society, a group of Roman Catholic Washington professionals, has organized the Red Mass at the cathedral since 1953.

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On DC's Red Sunday, A Call "To Look For the Good"

In the 60th edition of a classic rite of Washington autumn, this morning saw six of the nine Justices of the US Supreme Court fill the front pew of St Matthew's Cathedral for the capital's annual Red Mass, held as ever on the Sunday before the first Monday of October, when the Supremes' new term begins.

Led by Chief Justice John Roberts – the second Catholic ever to hold the post – the top-bench delegation was rounded out by Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan. 

Organized by the District's venerable John Carroll Society of Catholic lawyers – named for the founding bishop of these States – and always celebrated by the city's archbishop, given the crowd, the DC Red's guest preacher could well be considered American Catholicism's most prestigious annual speaking gig.

Along those lines, following in the recent footsteps of Tim Dolan, Gus DiNoia, Dan DiNardo, Peter Sartain, Seán O'Malley and the Venerable Ted, this year's pulpit honors have fallen to the capital-based Archbishop of the Military Services, the Cleveland-born Timothy Broglio, a career Vatican diplomat now charged with the spiritual welfare of some 1.5 million American Catholics either in uniform or on government service abroad, a flock far younger than practically any other in the Stateside church.

In the midst of a heated election season and an epic church-state showdown over the parameters of religious freedom on these shores, here below is the full text of Broglio's homily, as prepared for delivery.

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