Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan was the principal celebrant and homilist for this year’s Red Mass, held on September 30, the day before the Supreme Court’s fall session opened to pray for justices, judges, attorneys and senior government officials.

The Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.

The Red Mass invokes God’s blessings and guidance in the administration of justice under the power of the Holy Spirit, 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.

The Red Mass is sponsored each year by the John Carroll Society (JCS), a Washington area organization that provides spiritual, intellectual, charitable and social opportunities for Catholic professionals (www.johncarrollsociety.org).