Area judges, lawyers and other court officials gathered at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on Sept. 15 to take part in the annual Red Mass that marks the start of the judicial year. In his homily, Bishop Michael Mulvey called on the Holy Spirit to "invoke wisdom and light to all who serve in the legal profession."
He said that he would pray for all those who unselfishly give of themselves to serve the public good. He especially thanked the judges who hear cases of child abuse and domestic violence, which he called a "plague on our society."
"Thank you for your compassion, for your tenderness in these cases," Bishop Mulvey said.
The bishop urged the lawyers to call on the Holy Spirit for guidance in making decisions that will impact their fellow men. He said it takes only a moment of quiet prayer to say "come Holy Spirit. In doing so, the Holy Spirit can give us what we lack: wisdom, courage and right judgment. "
"God alone is the supreme lawgiver," Bishop Mulvey said. It is God who gave us the 10 Commandments to live by and to distinguish from right and wrong. "We cannot separate God from the gifts he has given us, including the law."
The bishop said, "All human rights must also conform to the natural law and never contradict it, especially where it comes to the dignity of life."
Judge Kevin Yeary of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals provided the keynote address at the conclusion of the Mass. A "cradle Catholic", Judge Year has close ties to the Diocese of Corpus Christi, having grown up in Laredo when it was still a part of the diocese.
The judge reached back to his Catholic upbringing to underscore his talk. His topic was entitled "Lessons for Christian Lawyers from the Life of a Young Jewish Girl." He pointed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a role model for them to follow.
Judge Yeary pointed to three aspects of Mary's life that others in the legal profession could use in their life. He said Mary put God first, she called on Jesus to intervene in the world and she encountered the world with Jesus the savior.
"Make time to fit God into your life," Judge Yeary said. "Make him first." He urged his legal colleagues to attend church, join a prayer group and to pray. He asked, "who do we put first", our clients or God, the voters or God?
He added that they should have the courage to ask for God's help. "Pray always, everywhere," Judge Yeary said.
He reminded his audience that Mary "did not shy away from difficult situations." He encouraged his fellow judged to "live more like Mary" and asked the Holy Spirit to "continue to bless and inspire us."
After the keynote address the congregation retired to St. Joseph Hall to hear a panel discussion.