Senator Zaffirini, DA
LaHood are Flag Bearers
for San Antonio’s 63rd
Annual Red Mass
Tradition Brings
Together
Members
of Judicial,
Legislative,
Legal
Communities.
S
enator Judith Zaffirini
and Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood
were the flag bearers at Saint
Mary’s University School of
Law’s Red Mass in San Antonio, Thursday (Oct. 6). The
two elected officials led the
procession of judges, legislators, attorneys and law
students at the 63rd annual
celebration at which members of all faiths celebrate the
beginning of the judicial and
academic year.
The celebrant was Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller,
assisted by approximately
one dozen co-celebrants.
Sandee Bryan Marion, chief
justice of the Fourth Court of
Appeals, was the welcoming
speaker.
“The Red Mass is not only
a beautiful, meaningful tradition, but also a wonderful
opportunity to join attorneys,
[ 32 ]
judges and legal scholars in
requesting God’s blessings
and guidance for the fair,
impartial administration of
justice,” Senator Zaffirini said.
“Accordingly, I was delighted
to carry the flag of our great
state in the processional to
the historic San Fernando Cathedral.”
The tradition of Red Mass
dates back more than 700
years to when European lawyers and judges attended the
mass together at the beginning of each judicial session.
The name “Red Mass” comes
from the scarlet robes worn
by judges and red vestments
worn by priests in honor of
the Holy Spirit.
Red Mass is now celebrated throughout the world
and began in San Antonio
62 years ago when St. Mary’s
University joined the Catholic
Lawyers Guild of San Antonio
to organize the event.
“I am grateful to the St.
Mary’s law school and the
Catholic Lawyers Guild for organizing this wonderful event
and to Archbishop Gustavo
Garcia and the Archdiocese
of San Antonio for hosting it,”
Senator Zaffirini added. “It is
a welcome reminder that all
who are involved in the legal
profession have a moral responsibility to prioritize fairness, uphold the rule of law
and always seek justice. This
responsibility extends not
only to judges and attorneys,
but also to the legislators who
write our laws and the peace
officers who enforce them.”
Senator Zaffirini, D-Laredo, represents part of Bexar
County and is a member of
Blessed Sacrament Catholic
Church in Laredo. l
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