Red Mass, 10/04

Friday, October 4
6:00 p.m.
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
Reception to follow at John F. Scarpa Hall

Join the Villanova Law community for the annual Red Mass. This year’s celebration will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. A complimentary reception will be held immediately following Red Mass at Scarpa Hall. No RSVP is necessary. 

A Villanova tradition for over 60 years, Red Mass provides an opportunity for faculty, alumni, students, families and guests to celebrate the beginning of the Law School’s academic year. The first Red Mass was offered in 1310 during the reign of King Edward I in Westminster Abbey to mark the opening of the judicial year. In the United States, the tradition began in 1928 at St. Andrew's Church in New York City. Since then, Red Mass has been celebrated to invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit for all those who seek justice. The ceremony’s traditional name is derived from the color of vestments worn by the celebrant and concelebrants, the scarlet robes of judges in attendance, and the scarlet gowns of the members of the law faculty. Villanova has held Red Mass since 1957.