Harvard's Black Mass and Catholic Response

As you may have heard, the Harvard Extension School is hosting a Satanic Black Mass this Monday, May 12th. Without adding my own fumbling thoughts on the matter, please inform yourself according to the Archdiocese of Boston press releases, as well as prayer vigils which you can participate in, including at our own parish in Arlington. Even if you can't make it out tomorrow night, please join the Boston Christian Community in prayer, with your families in your homes - prayer matters!

Statement from the Archdiocese of Boston:
The Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Boston expresses its deep sadness and strong opposition to the plan to stage a “black mass” on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge.

For the good of the Catholic faithful and all people, the Church provides clear teaching concerning Satanic worship. This activity separates people from God and the human community, it is contrary to charity and goodness, and it places participants dangerously close to destructive works of evil.

In a recent statement, Pope Francis warned of the danger of being naïve about or underestimating the power of Satan, whose evil is too often tragically present in our midst. We call upon all believers and people of good will to join us in prayer for those who are involved in this event, that they may come to appreciate the gravity of their actions, and in asking Harvard to disassociate itself from this activity.

Excerpt from Father Michael Drea, Senior Catholic Chaplain at Harvard:
As Senior Catholic Chaplain, it is my duty to offer my pastoral support to all in our community. And so, I call on the entire Harvard Catholic community to respond to this egregious action as our Lord Jesus would: with prayer and calm. We pray for all associated with this act that they may turn away from evil and be converted to the Truth of Christ in their lives. We pray as well for spiritual strength from our Heavenly Father that will guide us through this time of testing for us all.

I therefore invite all Catholics and people of good will in the community to gather for a Eucharistic Holy Hour and Benediction this coming Monday evening, May 12th, from 8.00 to 9.00 PM in St. Paul’s Church at the corner of Bow and Arrow Streets in Harvard Square. As a community, we will be strengthened by uniting in prayer before of Eucharistic Lord asking for His grace to be his faithful followers in a world that is shrouded in darkness.

The following events are taking place on Monday, May 12th in response to the Black Mass planned by a group at Harvard:

Saint Agnes Parish Center, 6:30 pm

(51 Medford St., Arlington)

Rosary in the Chapel, Ground Floor of Parish Center

MIT Chapel, 7:00-8:00 pm

(Massachusetts Ave and Amherst Street, Cambridge)

Exposition and Adoration of the Eucharist. A Eucharistic procession will leave the chapel at approximately 7:15 pm and process up Mass Ave to Saint Paul's Church in Cambridge.

Saint Paul's Church, 8:00-9:00 pm

(Bow and Arrow Steets, Harvard Square)

Eucharistic Holy Hour and Benediction, joined by MIT Eucharistic procession

"For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, nor any powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

Here is a prayer that can be said in reparation of a sacrilege, for those who won't be able to join the various prayer vigils outside of their homes tonight.

My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love You.

I beg 

pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not 

trust and do not love You.

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, 

Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly.

I offer You 

the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus 

Christ, present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in 

reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by 

which He is offended, and by the infinite merits of the Sacred 

Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the 

conversion of poor sinners.  Amen.