At Red Mass, Archbishop Vásquez calls legal community to cherish, protect all human life

Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez celebrated the annual Red Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Oct. 30. The annual Mass unites members of the legal and legislative community of Houston, which included several local judges and lawyers from the Houston area. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)HOUSTON — Ahead of the upcoming legislative year and in the middle of early voting for the mid-term elections, Archbishop Joe S. Vásquez celebrated the annual Red Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston on Oct. 30. 

Wearing their traditional black judicial robes, several judges from a number of local district courts attended the Mass alongside many members of the Houston-area legal community. 

In his homily at the annual Mass, which lifts up the legal community of Galveston-Houston in prayer, Archbishop Vásquez invoked God’s blessings on judges, attorneys and law professionals in attendance. 

“Human life must be cherished in all stages, from conception until natural death; the sanctity of life must always be protected,” he said. “The stronger our relationship with God, the more clearly we will realize the dignity God has bestowed on all persons. We also cannot ignore the suffering of the elderly, the poor, the sick, the incarcerated, the migrant and the refugee. They possess human dignity, and they must always be treated with utmost respect.”

He also reflected on the U.S.’s upcoming 250th anniversary, urging unity and adherence to the Declaration of Independence’s principles that all are created equally with “inalienable rights,” including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“These rights come from God,” he said. “We must do all we can to protect and ensure that all will benefit from them.”

He also prayed for the each attendee: “May God grant you in the legal profession the integrity, wisdom and courage you need to fulfill the responsibilities of creating a more just society which protects the dignity of each person in the Gospel.”

Archbishop Vásquez underscored Jesus’ commandment of love and the Eucharist as the Sacrament of charity. Father Luke Millette, judicial vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese, concelebrated the Mass alongside a number of other priests. 

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo attended  the Mass in choir, and also joined Archbishop Vásquez in a panel during a reception that followed the Mass.