Some four dozen people attended a black mass in Oklahoma City on Sunday, while hours before as many as 2,000 Christians, including four bishops, prayed and processed with the Eucharist in thanksgiving and reparation.
Despite concerted efforts from Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, the black mass occurred as planned. However, the Satanic group did not use a consecrated Host for the event. Though the leaders of the group originally claimed that they had a Host and would use it for the black mass, Archbishop Coakley filed a lawsuit on the basis that the Host had to be «stolen property.» A judge issued a stay and the Host was returned to an archdiocesan priest.
Faith
In his homily at a Eucharistic Hour before the black mass, the archbishop spoke to the overflow crowd about Catholics’ faith in the Eucharist.
Referring to Jesus’ assertion «my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink,» Archbishop Coakley observed, «At times, Christians have argued over the theological significance of these words. Satan, on the other hand, hears these words and trembles. The Eucharist has been at the heart of the current controversy over the so-called black mass (which to our shame as a city) is being allowed to proceed this evening at the Civic Center Music Hall. That blasphemous and sacrilegious ritual is a mockery of the Catholic Mass that requires for its consummation the corruption and desecration of the Eucharist. Why? Because Satanists, and their master, know who is present. They acknowledge the Real Presence of the Lord Jesus, not to adore him, but only to mock and to scorn in hatred.»
Bread of angels
The archbishop recognized that some in the Oklahoma community have reacted negatively to the archdiocese’s efforts to stop the black mass.
«I think many people in our community haven’t understood the persistence of our efforts nor the depth of our outrage over this blasphemy largely because they do not share our faith,» he said. «They do not understand, or accept, what we believe to be true. They do not share our faith in what we Catholics (and many other Christians) acknowledge to be the greatest gift that the Lord has entrusted to the Church: the gift of his own Body and Blood in the Blessed Sacrament. The Eucharist, instituted by the Lord at the Last Supper and entrusted to the Apostles is truly the Lord’s abiding Presence among us. It is really and substantially spiritual food for our pilgrim journey and the pledge of future glory in the Heavenly Banquet. It is the bread of angels given to men.»
The Eucharistic procession following the Holy Hour stretched around a city block.
Extra security personnel were stationed outside the civic center before the black mass. Protesters were kept to one side and the handful of participants entered through a side entrance. One protestor was arrested.
Diane Clay, the director of the archdiocese’ office of communications, told ZENIT the prayer events were «filled with prayer and love, and a wonderful reminder of how powerful and gracious Our Lord is in our everyday lives.»
She added, «To watch nearly 3,000 people prayerfully walk through the streets of Oklahoma City and then get on their knees in silent prayer was an experience we will never forget.»
