Today marks the opening of the forensic year, and a mass celebrating this opening took place at St John's Co-Cathedral.

"At the beginning of this forensic year, let us pray for our justice to be good and just," Auxiliary Bishop Charles Cremona said while celebrating mass.

In his sermon, the Auxiliary Bishop spoke about justice and the responsibility of those who must uphold the law.

"I await mercy from my judge," he said, quoting the book of Job. "We are all indebted to God," he preached.

"I believe that a just judge realises that he is God's creation, that he ultimately needs mercy... You must be determined in the road you take".

The Auxiliary Bishop spoke about the role of a judge. "You must be the personification of Justice, you cannot look back. Judges and lawyers must use their skills for good. This is why I, and members of public office, cannot differentiate between their persona life and their public face".

"We need to live a just life".

"A judge has his own conscience and he must safeguard, not just the letter, but also the dignity of the law," he said.

He made reference to St Therese, whose feast day is also today she is a highly influential model of sanctity for Roman Catholics and for others because of the simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life.

A number of high profile members of society attended, including Acting President Dolores Cristina and Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri.

Over the past years the Judiciary had its controversial moments when first the Chief Justice and another judge were found guilty of taking bribes, another judge was more recently also charged with receiving bribes and a sitting judge escaped impeachment because he retired upon reaching the age of 65.