The Lawyers’ Guild of St. Thomas More takes its name from the 16th century lawyer,
    judge, diplomat and writer, Sir. Thomas More (1478-1535). Since its inception in
    1949, it has endeavored to expand its activities to embrace members of all faiths for
    the purpose of invoking divine guidance in the administration of justice. In the fall of
    each year, it sponsors the popular Red Mass, attended by lawyers, judges and
    public officials, and celebrated at the chapel on the St. Paul campus of the University
    of St. Thomas.  The Guild encourages law students and faculty from all the
    Minnesota law schools to attend the Red Mass as well as the other educational
    opportunities it offers throughout the year.

    Sir Thomas More was the first layperson to serve as Lord Chancellor to the King of
    England (Henry VIII), and was the Crown’s chief minister as well as the country’s
    highest judicial officer.

    When Henry VIII demanded that he sign the Oath of Supremacy, More resigned his
    position on the ground that the King could not be made the Supreme Head of the
    Church. This stance resulted in his conviction for treason and his execution in 1535.
    His philosophy echoed in his last words: “The King’s good servant, but God’s first.”

    Thomas More’s life was celebrated in Robert Bolt’s “A Man for All Seasons”, whose
    title comes from a quote of the scholar Robert Whittington, who wrote of Sir Thomas
    in 1520:

            “More is a man of an angel’s wit and singular learning. I know not his fellow.
            For where is the man of that gentleness, lowliness and affability? And, as time
            requireth, a man of marvelous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad
            gravity. A man for all seasons.”

    Our Guild sponsored its first Red Mass in 1949 in the capitol city of St. Paul. Named
    for the color of the vestments worn by its celebrants, the Red Mass traces its roots to
    the Middle Ages, at which time the English legal year was divided into four terms of
    court, each celebrated with an opening mass. In time, the custom evolved into one
    such celebration, held traditionally near Michaelmas (September 29), the season at
    which the courts, Parliament and the universities all began their official activities of
    the year.

    For further information, please email or call:

          Frank Miley

           Neal Buethe      612-977-8400
History
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The Lawyer's Guild of St. Thomas More Minnesota
“More is a man of an
angel’s wit and
singular learning.
I know not his fellow.
For where is the man of
that gentleness,
lowliness and
affability?  And, as
time requireth, a man of
marvelous mirth and
pastimes, and sometime
of as sad gravity. A
man for all seasons.”

Robert Whittington