High-ranking Vatican official to be homilist at Red Mass

By Joyce Coronel | Dec. 17, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Archbishop Raymond Burke, the head of the Catholic Church’s highest court in Rome, will be the homilist at the 40th annual Red Mass Jan. 12 at St. Mary’s Basilica.

Attorneys, lawmakers, judges and other public officials gather at the yearly Red Mass to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The St. Thomas More Society, a lay organization of attorneys, hosts the Mass that traditionally marks the opening of the Arizona Legislative session.

Fr. Chris Fraser, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Phoenix, said that Archbishop Burke, whose official title is Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, is a seasoned canonist whose appointment signifies Pope Benedict XVI’s confidence in his abilities as an ecclesiastical judge.

“The Signatura is the most important and highest ranking ecclesiastical court in the Catholic Church,” Fr. Fraser said. “The Prefect of the Signatura serves a crucial role in the carrying out of justice and equity in the Church.”

John Kelly, general counsel for the Diocese of Phoenix, said that Archbishop Burke’s position is akin to that of Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“As a Catholic lawyer, it is an incredible honor to be graced with the presence of Archbishop Burke at the Red Mass,” Kelly said. “This is also a man who has publicly and unabashedly defended the teachings of the Church on the sanctity of life. An opportunity to celebrate Mass with someone like this does not come along very often.”

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, who invited Archbishop Burke to be this year’s homilist, said the two have known each other since 1971 when they were both seminarians studying in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

“We became friends at that time and have remained so ever since,” Bishop Olmsted said. “It will be a great honor for the Church of Phoenix to welcome Archbishop Burke among us for the Red Mass.”

In addition to this key juridical position in the Church, Archbishop Burke has written and lectured throughout the world on Church teaching and practice, not only related to canon law but also to dogmatic and moral theology, Bishop Olmsted said.

Maria Salapka, president of the St. Thomas More Society, is looking forward to hearing what Archbishop Burke has to say.

“The society is very honored by Archbishop Burke’s acceptance of Bishop’s Olmsted’s invitation. We all await, with great anticipation and gratitude, Archbishop Burke’s homily and his thoughts, inspiration and guidance on significant issues of our day,” Salapka said.

And while the Red Mass is traditionally geared toward attorneys, Salapka said she thinks some non-lawyers may also be in attendance this year.

“While traditionally the Red Mass is attended predominantly by members of bar, bench, legislature as well as members of the executive branch of the state government, it is expected that due to Archbishop Burke’s prominence, the 40th Red Mass will also draw Catholic business and community leaders,” Salapka said.