A Red Mass for legal and justice professionals, sponsored by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki and the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, will be held at noon on Monday, Oct. 14, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence Ave. in Springfield.

A Red Mass is a Catholic tradition that originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. In the United States, Red Masses are often celebrated in the fall, around the date of the opening of the U.S. Supreme Court’s October term. Judges, attorneys, law school professors, students and government officials are invited to reflect on their professions and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their work.

The term “Red” Mass comes from the color of the red vestments worn, symbolizing the Holy Spirit who appeared as tongues of fire that descended upon the Apostles on the first Pentecost.

The Red Mass will be followed by a luncheon in the Cathedral Atrium. Bishop Paprocki will address those attending and the keynote speaker will be Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi.

Msgr. Vaghi was born in Washington, D.C., in 1948. He attended the College of the Holy Cross, and then was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to attend the University of Salzburg in Austria. Returning to America, he attended the University of Virginia Law School and worked as an attorney and staffer to Senator Pete Domenici in Washington, D.C. As a seminarian, he was assigned to study at the North American College in Vatican City and attended the Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained in 1985. In 1995, he was designated a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II. Msgr. Vaghi is pastor of a parish in Bethesda, Md., and chaplain of the John Carroll Society, a group of professional men and women in service of the Archbishop  of Washington.

All are welcome to attend the Red Mass. Cost for the luncheon is $20 per person and reservations must be made by Oct. 7 by calling (217) 522-3342 or e-mailing .