Harvard student black mass: A personal Catholic response

Catholic Review ^ | 5/12/14 | Wendy Stewart

[Welchie25]

Via social media, I heard there is a student club at Harvard planning a “Black Mass” for today. When I first heard of it, I didn’t think much about it except to pray for all involved, on both sides of the issue.

Then, as today approached, I started to see more in my feed about this “Black Mass,” and I wondered if someone had penned a response, official or otherwise.

You see, I’m not looking for official guidance on how to respond to a group of students exercising their first amendment right to free speech, especially if they change venues and go off campus. I was looking for someone to give a response from the average Catholic; from the perspective of someone who isn’t personally involved, but, as a Catholic, has an opinion and a reaction.

Some of you may remember I have a degree in history from the U.S. Naval Academy. My unofficial specialty was religion and I continue to spend a lot of time researching more about my Catholic faith and learning about the faith traditions of others. I’m a history/religion geek, what can I say?

One of those I happen to be a bit familiar with is Satanism. Oddly enough, despite the name, they don’t actually worship Satan – at least not in the way we worship God. Satanism, according to its official website, espouses much of the opposite we value in the Christian church and in other faith traditions.

So, what does that mean when Satanists, who don’t really believe in Satan go and celebrate a “Black Mass?” They are usually, deliberately, poking fun and parodying the rest of us, especially Catholics.

The ultimate question is, how do we respond?

[crusadersoldier]

Get John Wiley Price on the case of the black mass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc1zGRUPztc

[wordsofearnest]

Prayer & outrage would be my reaction. Never a good idea to invoke Satan’s name.

[Gumdrop]

I am aghast at such an event going on, and especially on a “so-called Christian University” campus.

I look at it in a personal way. Oh, to be sure, as a Catholic I am insulted. My concern is the insult that will be directed at the Holy Eucharist. A consecrated host is the Body of Christ. Any insult to Jesus Christ is a painful thing to me. My very best friend ever, will be parodied and mocked by people who are either evil - or are too stupid to realize the gravity of such an act against the Savior of humanity. May God have mercy upon them ‘for they know not what they do’.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

[Dqban22]

In Obamaland, Islam and Satanism are now protected and promoted religions while Christians are persecuted.

Will Harvard, in his commitment for freedom of expression, allow a ceremony centered around the desecration of the Koran, using it in a profane sexual ritual, or defecating and urinating on it?

Will Obama and Holder allow the desecration of the Koran with impunity as they are allowing the desecration of the most sacrosanct act of the Catholic Church? Will Obama put in jail those involved in the black mass as he put the Coptic Christian who dare to criticize Islam in a youtube for the Muslim persecution of Christians?