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Reconcilation just does not seem to be a real option these days in the resolution of marriage, commented Cardinal Clancy in his homily at last week’s Red Mass for the legal fraternity. He said he was saddened at the
recent speeding-up of divorce case processing.
The cardinal took reconciliation in its widest sense as the theme of his homily for the annual celebratory Mass, saying the work of reconciliation was the
mission of every Christian. History could be written in terms of estrangement between people and the nearly always inadequate efforts to bring about reconciliation, the cardinal said.
The 71st Red Mass, held
at St Mary’s Cathedral on Monday, January 29, saw Sydney’s legal fraternity commemorate in prayer the opening of the 2001 Law Term.
Cardinal Clancy was the principal celebrant and delivered his homily (see
this issue for full text) on the theme of reconciliation, basing it on the gospel reading from Matthew 5:21-26.
“We should be reconciled with our adversary before devoting ourselves to prayer, because to
offer prayer while alienated from a brother or sister would be a mockery; to contemplate litigation instead of reconciliation would be to invite disaster,” the cardinal told the congregation.
All levels of
the judiciary were represented and included the Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, James Spigelman; Chief Justice of the Federal Court, Michael Black, and Chief Justice of the High Court, Murray Gleeson. Ruth
McColl, Nicholas Meagher and Tony Reynolds gave the readings.
The cantor was barrister Francois Kunc and making their Red Mass debut was the choir of Holy Name Church, Wahroonga, directed by Richard Perignon
with Peter Kneeshaw as organist.
See this issue for Cardinal’s Clancy’s homily and photographs of the event.
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