Over the past few days, a story has been circulating around the Catholic blogosphere about a “Black Mass,” hosted by The Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club and The Satanic Temple, scheduled to take place on Monday, May 12th.
Initial reports, which have since been refuted by the club, indicated that the ritual would include the desecration of a consecrated Host.
Many Catholic commentators are rightly expressing outrage, just as one might expect. In some cases, however, the way it is being expressed is an even more relevant part of the bigger story, and the one that is going largely unnoticed.
Take, for example blogger, Deacon Greg Kandra:
The Extension School issued a vague and rather passive aggressive statement about this “controversial event,” without actually saying what the event is, or even mentioning what it entails or why it might be in the least bit controversial. It’s an independent group, they say. We don’t endorse it, they say. They can do what they want, they say.
After offering a brief history of the school with reference to some of the noteworthy heretics who are part of its lore, including the Minister of the First Church of Charlestown, John Harvard, for whom the school is named, Deacon Kandra says:
But the Harvard name still counts for something. Doesn’t it? … The school’s roots are in religion, and in Truth; its one word motto, “Veritas,” says it all.
In reading this, one wonders if Deacon Kandra, like the LCWR as recently assessed by Cardinal Gerhard Muller, has “the ability truly to sentire cum Ecclesia,” to think and to feel with the Church?
You see, had he looked at Harvard through the eyes of the Catholic Church, such would have engendered a rather different reaction, as doing so necessarily means recognizing that an institution with Protestant origins has no claim whatsoever to having its roots in “Truth.”
If it did have such roots and was faithful to them, Harvard would be Catholic.
Deacon Kandra’s plea is even more troubling when one considers that the failure to recognize a consecrated Host as anything other than mere bread is perfectly in keeping with the esteemed traditions associated with Harvard’s actual roots.
In any case, the essence of the deacon’s outrage comes into sharper focus when he laments:
Whether or not one agrees with Catholic theology—and surely, many at Harvard don’t—someone there has to agree: this is wrong. This is hateful. This is evil. Even unbelievers have to concede: this expresses hate for Catholic Christianity, offends sensibilities, inflicts pain on people of faith, and mocks the understanding of God embraced by a billion people around the world. It goes beyond just trying to offer information about Satanism—as dubious as that might be—into actually attacking and defiling another religion. This, in the service of “truth”?
To be clear, I have no doubt that Deacon Kandra is genuinely and properly upset at the thought of the Most Holy Eucharist being desecrated.
What I find most noteworthy, however, is the degree to which his commentary is reflective of the disease that runs rampant through the post-conciliar Church wherein the overwhelming majority of churchmen have lost their sense for absolute truth, and thus their ability to sentire cum Ecclesia.
Deacon Kandra is correct when he says that the proposed act is evil, but he is barking up a purely secular tree when he complains that it is “hateful, offends sensibilities, and inflicts pain on people of faith.” In the scope of things, this list of grievances amounts to little more than the bumper sticker slogans so popular among the humanists: “MEAN PEOPLE SUCK” and “COEXIST.”
Most telling is his complaint that the proposed ritual “mocks the understanding of God embraced by a billion people around the world.”
Of what difference does it make how many people’s “understanding of God” is being mocked?
The Catholic answer? None. It is God who is being mocked every time the Eucharist is mistreated, even if there is no one left on Earth to acknowledge Him.
Now, please understand that I don’t mean to pick on Deacon Kandra. He just so happens to have provided us with a valuable glimpse at a widespread problem.
You see, Deacon Kandra, like most members of the sacred hierarchy in our day, is the product of his formation; an evidently deficient formation that cultivated in him and many others a manner of “thinking and feeling” that is not with the Church of Christ; but rather with the church-of-man that emerged in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council.
At the heart of his disorientation, whether he knows it or not, is the Council’s treatment of religious liberty as expressed in Dignitatis Humanae, according to which those Satanists who are planning to make sport of the Blessed Sacrament are simply exercising their “right to religious freedom that has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person.” (DH 2)
We understand God one way; they understand Him another way. We worship our way, they worship their way. Oh, well, such is life in the post-conciliar modern world!
The Council Fathers said nothing whatsoever about this freedom of religion being contingent upon the absence of hatred, or even evil for that matter. They never suggested that offenses against Christ who is Truth should be a limiting factor in the exercise of this supposed right to practice one’s particular brand of “religion.”
On the contrary, they said that the right to freely practice one’s version of whatever they happen to call religion “exists even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it and the exercise of this right is not to be impeded, provided that just public order be observed.” (ibid.)
So, as long as the Satanists carry out their desecration peacefully, who the hell are we to complain?
My friends, this travesty wherein damn near anything goes when it comes to the false “right to religious freedom,” a freedom that endures regardless of how offensive it is against Christ and all that is truly Holy, is precisely what the Council invited the day it effectively deposed Christ the King and encouraged States to treat the false religions of the world as if they were of equal dignity as the one true Faith.
Maybe, just maybe, this entire affair will serve to open some eyes to the grave disservice Dignitatis Humanae has done to Christ, His Church, and those for whom He laid down His life. We shall see.
Deacon Kandra ended his post by asking the question, “What would John Harvard think?”
Rhetorical though the question may be, please allow me to answer:
Even if he might think it bad form on the part of the Satanists, at the end of the day, he would still think the entire dust up is over a simple piece of bread.
That said, who really gives a damn what John Harvard would think?
Brilliant, as always.
“Most telling—-“–indeed Mr. V. Superb post. Clear talk provides strength for the battle. Thank you.
You are spot on in regard to offense. The secular response is, “It offends people of faith,” or “This is an offense against religious liberty.” Who cares if you’re offended? It’s God who is offended! We should only care about God and upholding the rights of the true Church founded by Christ, outside of which there is no salvation.
Louie,
It’s getting almost impossible to keep up with the nonsense and scandals coming from the Novus Ordo Church (I find it difficult to include the word “Catholic”). Surely, you and your readers know that St. Mary’s “church” in Amsterdam, NY, has proclaimed this year as the “Year of Lady Gaga.” At first, I thought (hoping against hope) that it was the year to pray for Lady Gaga’s conversion. Of course not!! This is a celebration because she is a “product” of catholic education who has demonstrated wonderful “creativity”. No more to be said–I’m speechless!
Also, Father Ray Kelly–the singing priest–has been offered a recording contract. Now his life is fulfilled! His vocation to the priesthood wasn’t enough to make his “dream” come true! Again, I’m speechless. I’ll leave it to the experts like you to make the appropriate comments. Lord, help us all!
Religious liberty and the ecumenitis that follows naturally are the work of the devil for this reason, prima facie: it leads immediately to the violation of the principle of non-contradiction. In other words, it is opposed to reason itself. Those two famous words – “diabolical disorientation” – have proven so uncannily apt.
Sorry. I don’t listen to much any permanent deacon says. Permanent deacons are a useless development of Vatican II. They’re not quite a priest, but believe they’re miles above any layman. I’ve read the blog mentioned. It’s eyewash. Praise for Father Barron, JPII, JXIII, and any other neocatholic nonsense.
The scourging of our Lord doesn’t cease, does it. people don’t get it (unless they are hard and fast satanists who revel in it). Used to be that one could only steal off with a consecrated host with the explicit help of an utterly evil priest (likely the same celebrant at the ‘mass’). Now one can just swan up to the presider at mass and grab away. I’ve seen it even in videos of Frankie’s communions – people snatching at the body of our Lord and clearly walking away without consuming. Sadly the abuse of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is a daily occurrance in the novus ordo church – and I dearly hope sometimes that many novus ordo priests simply do not have the ‘ontological ability’ anymore to confect the sacrament – which is why, surely, so so so many priests don’t seem to care. as for those who knowingly join satan in this desecration, all I can say is i would not want to ever have anything to do with the Harvard UES – if this ever did or does happen – and they even have the stupidity to add the terrible sin of scandal by letting the public know and ‘sit with it’, get ‘used to it’. they have brought something terrible down on themselves simply by the suggestion.
p.s. Blessed Bartolo Longo, intercede for wretched misguided souls.
p.s.s. mundabor was using the following statement in a different context but I think it can apply: “Once again, we see the gradualism always used by satan to attack everything that is Holy.”
Another sad irony of this tale, in addition to the fact that the documents of VatII may be used to validate this atrocity based upon a false primacy placed upon “human dignity” vis-a-vis religious worship, is that these satanists actually “practice what they preach”. In other words, they actually demonstrate through their warped liturgy, a belief in the Real Presence, which is more than can be said for your average American Catholic (if current polls of them are acurate), let alone a heretic like John Harvard. Just another “fruit” of the “new springtime”. In the end, “lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi” is a truth of life, and applies evenly to all…Catholics, heretics, and satanists.
As we analyze the causes and excuses for such a demonstration of the most extreme evil, I am amazed that it can actually be debated. How is it possible that the whole world is not appalled at the thought of the worship of satan at all. With all the reasons that we can somewhat understand in the history of the Church since the reformation, this concept of devil worship is way out there even beyond left field. Can someone actually defend any of the principles used to conduct such a sacrilege? No words in whatever order could in anyway give understanding to reason for such a display. Yet, at last we come to the real sides of the issue. Who is for satan and who is for Christ? It is as simple as that. Microsoft Word wants me to capitalized satan; forget that! I read once an inspiring explanation into the relation of Christ, satan, Peter and the Church. Maybe someone might correct me in its veracity, but it is right up the alley of the “sentirelle”. When Jesus was led out into the desert to be tested by satan those 3 times, satan was rebuffed. It is written that when it was time to give the Keys of the Kingdom to Peter, Jesus led him out to that same place where Jesus was taken and offered the whole world. It was in the “sight of satan” so to speak that Peter made his profession of faith (Mt 16:16). Talk about a drama. Jesus put all his authority into this very human Simon now Peter as if to let satan know he lost. Jesus would not rule the world from that high precipice, but on this “rock” of faith. From that moment on it has been war with Christ against his Church and this frail human “rock”, Peter.
Hear, hear!
Responding to the last few comments, it truly is amazing to see the near-total degradation of our western culture (Catholic civilization). Remember those foolish ‘DaVinci Code’ movies? The ‘smart’ characters of the story were satanists. It is dumbfounding to realize we are surrounded by people who think this is enlightened thought. It is really the end result of the religious liberty nonsense. It is shocking to see how many accept it. The only good thing is that it does help us recognize the enemy; it positively demonstrates that the suspect teachings of Vll are not of the Holy Ghost.
Any priests out there to offer Mass intentions that this doesn’t happen? Where are the bishops on this? mute, dumb, scared or just don’t care?
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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/satanic-mass-organizers-call-catholic-outcry-intolerant/
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Enough is enough.
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Nine Hour “Crash” Novena
to the Holy Infant of Prague
Infant Jesus of Prague
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Said once every hour for nine consecutive hours
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Novena Prayer
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O Jesus, Who has said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened,” through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted. (Make your request)
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O Jesus, Who has said, “All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you,” through the intercession of Mary Thy Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father in Thy name that my prayer will be granted. (Make your request)
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O Jesus, Who has said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away,” through the intercession of Mary Thy Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted. (Make your request)
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Prayer
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O Divine Child of Prague, and still the great omnipotent God, I implore through Thy most Holy Mother’s most powerful intercession and through the boundless mercy of Thy omnipotence as God, for a favorable answer to the intention I so earnestly ask for in this Novena.
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O Divine Child of Prague, hear my prayer and grant my petition. (say three times)
Add Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be. (said once)
Matthew 7:15…
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
That just begs us to list in two columns the good and bad fruit and draw our conclusions. It seems that 50 years of VII influence has left us a bit daft about almost everything even if it is as extreme as this demonstration. Time has come to stoke the fire.
here’s a petition to sign:
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http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/tell-harvard-university-stop-black-mass.html?utm_source=petitions&utm_medium=ty-email&utm_campaign=SAE0250e
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/05/12/harvard-satanic-black-mass-canceled/
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Deo gratias!
St. Augustine to worldlings:
“For why in your calamities do you complain of Christianity, unless because you desire to enjoy your luxurious license unrestrained, and to lead an abandoned and profligate life without the interruption of any uneasiness or disaster? For certainly your desire for peace, and prosperity, and plenty is not prompted by any purpose of using these blessings honestly, that is to say, with moderation, sobriety, temperance, and piety; for your purpose rather is to run riot in an endless variety of sottish pleasures, and thus to generate from your prosperity a moral pestilence which will prove a thousandfold more disastrous than the fiercest enemies.”
-City of God, Bk. 1, Ch. 30
“I quite like the new idea of a permanent diaconate.”
-Abp. Marcel Lefebvre, Marcel Lefebvre, the Biography, by Bp. Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, p. 277
V II=Sheer Humanism.