County's legal community attends Red Mass

Judges, attorneys and clerks received a special blessing Thursday as they attended the 15th anniversary of the Red Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in downtown Brownsville.

Approximately 50 people participated in the procession from the Cameron County's historic Dancy Building to the cathedral where Bishop Raymundo J. Peña presided over a Mass in their honor, where another 100-plus individuals waited to greet them.

"God has called us to be agents of peace and justice in our community," Peña said.

During the Mass, Peña reminded the group to be grateful to God for the gifts they had received and to "employ the Holy Spirit for guidance in the justice system of the land and the church."

Traditionally, the Red Mass marks the opening of the Supreme Court's term.

It is referred to as the Red Mass because the liturgical leaders celebrating the Mass are dressed in red. Red is the color of the Holy Spirit, which symbolizes the seven-fold flame.

According to Christian teaching, the seven-fold flame represents wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord and delight in the Lord.

Edinburg attorney Ana Bergh said the main goal of Thursday's Mass was to honor the Lord and honor the professions of those involved in the judicial system.

"It's to give a better name to the legal community and people can find out that we do a lot of work," said Bergh, who has served as co-chairwoman of the Red Mass for Hidalgo County for several years.

State District Court judges and justices of the peace from Cameron and Hidalgo counties, dressed in their black robes adorned with red braids, walked the two blocks to the cathedral. Leading them were members of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Joseph High School Band.

Cameron County Justice of the Peace Linda Salazar has been participating in the Red Mass for approximately 10 years-first as a clerk when she worked for now retired State District Judge Menton Murray Jr., and now as a judge herself.

"It's a blessing for me, that the good Lord will take care of us when we make decisions in court and to make the right decisions," Salazar said, moments before the procession started.

The first Red Mass was celebrated in 1245 in Paris. The tradition of the Red Mass spread to the United States in 1928 and made its way to Cameron and Hidalgo County 15 years ago. It is celebrated annually with the venues alternating between Cameron and Hidalgo counties.