Reason and Concern
BY ATTY. RONQUILLO C. TOLENTINO

Red Mass for justices, judges and lawyers

“DOJ Chief to go after smugglers, tax cheats” – Philippine Daily Inquirer July 4, 2010 headline. Must have read F. Sionil Jose’s open letter to President Noynoy, specifically the eighth paragraph thereof which reads, thus: “You have the biggest crooks in and out of government, those powerful smugglers, thieves, tax cheats…”
*** “Bishops to offer Red Mass for lawyers, judiciary” – Philippine Star July 3, 2010 headline. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is offering a “Red Mass” today, 9 a.m.
at the Manila Cathedral for the enlightenment of justices and judges in crafting their decisions, and lawyers in preparing their pleadings.
This “Red Mass” is the first that the Archdiocese of Manila will host.
The Red Mass has been traced to England and France. It started in the Middle Ages. Red is the color of liturgical vestments and is “traditionally worn to symbolize the tongues of fire that descended on the Apostles at the Pentecost.”
According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the tradition was first documented in France in the 1200; a special Mass for lawyers and judges was held in the Chapel of the Order Advocates built by King Louis IX.
The ritual soon spread to England where, during the reign of King Edward I, the entire bench and bar would mark the opening of each term of court by attending the Mass together.
CBCP expects the officials of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and Sandiganbayan to grace the occasion.
CBCP further added that from the academe, officials of the Philippine Association of Law Schools, officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and even the Commission on Elections are attending.
Fr. Joaquin Bernas, the country’s leading constitutionalist, says that they are “thinking more of the lawyers and the judges who really need our prayers.”
*** “P-Noy” is for President Benigno Aquino III.
“V-Nay” seems appropriate for Vice President Jejomar Binay, some political observers jokingly say.
Asked what they shall name Cong. Feliciano Belmonte if he is elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, the ready answer is “S-Monte."