Cardinal Roger Mahony and a dozen other priests concelebrated the 23rd annual Red Mass Sept. 27 --- invoking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit on members of the legal profession in Southern California.

More than 500 local lawyers attended the late afternoon liturgy in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. An honor guard from papal orders led the lengthy procession of Loyola Law School faculty; federal, state and local judges; members of the diplomatic corps; city and county officials; and the archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal into the archdiocese's mother church.

"This is an annual event that invokes the Holy Spirit upon all of those who practice law," the cardinal pointed out in his brief welcoming remarks. He added that "we pray for this new year to be one filled with the mercy and justice of God for all."

Father Greg Boyle, founder and director of Homeboy Industries in Boyle Heights (see pp. 10-11), came off the altar to give his homily. The Jesuit priest spoke passionately of the gang kids he works with, who are typically ostracized and demonized by society.

He said Hurricane Katrina --- at least for a while --- broke down racial, class and other barriers. Suddenly, people who didn't matter mattered, and social distances between groups disappeared.

"We discovered a truth," Father Boyle declared, his voice rising. "That we're all in the shape of God anyway. That we are in the shape of God's heart, and that's our common ground. It's what connects us, if we let it."

The first recorded Red Mass was celebrated in 1245 in a Parisian chapel built by King Louis IX of France. During the reign of Edward I of England (1272-1307), judges and lawyers assembled in Westminster Abbey for a Red Mass before the start of every new court term.

From the 13th century, priests at the yearly Masses wore red robes to represent the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Judges in high courts also donned scarlet robes. Soon the term "Red Mass" was used to describe these liturgies for lawyers. In 1928, New York City was the site of the first Red Mass in the United States.

"I've only been a public defender with Los Angeles County for a year and a-half, so, obviously, the learning curve is steep and I need a lot of wisdom," Christine Rodriguez said, half-smiling, after Mass. "I also came here just for strength. To ask God to give me strength, and to help me not just deal with my clients but also the judges and the whole legal system."