Spiritual Warfare in the Heartland: Protesting the Satanic Black Mass in Oklahoma
"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle..."
"The familiar prayer was on the lips of faithful Catholics across America for the battle heating up in the heart of the country. On Sunday September 21st, 2014, for the first time in the United States a sacrilegious and blasphemous “black mass” took place on public property. The Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall hosted the satanic ritual, notwithstanding massive opposition from more than 215,000 Americans who signed online petitions expressing their indignation. Months of emails and phone calls in protest and many attempts to have the event cancelled seemed to no avail. The day arrived when the satanic ritual sacrilege took place as the venue’s officials obstinately refused to respond to public opinion and cancel the event.
The group sponsoring the sacrilege, the Dakhma of Angra Mainyu, an openly satanic organization, drew widespread reaction when it was announced that it had obtained a stolen consecrated Host from a Catholic Church. A swift lawsuit filed by Archbishop Coakley of Oklahoma City ensured the Host’s safe return, though many Catholics expressed their misgivings that the satanists might have obtained another in secret. The legal battle was just one step in the months-long struggle to stop this open manifestation of the forces of darkness. The public mockery of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass prompted Catholics to take a public stand in defense of Christ and His Church.
Protests and Acts of Reparation
At 3:00 pm, four bishops, dozens of priests and nuns, along with over 3,000 faithful crowded St. Francis of Assisi Church in Oklahoma City for a Holy Hour of Reparation for the scheduled “black mass.” The church and gym were filled an hour before the event began, and hundreds of people spilled out into the parking lot in all directions. The Eucharistic Procession followed afterward through the surrounding neighborhood, a unique opportunity to witness faith in the Blessed Sacrament by Catholics of all ages.
Later in the afternoon, the standards and banners of the American TFP and America Needs Fatima dominated Bicentennial Park in front of the main entrance to the Civic Center, and hundreds of faithful Catholics soon swelled the ranks to offer a public act of reparation at the site of the reprehensible offense against Our Eucharistic Lord. A solemn procession with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, carried on the shoulders of TFP members in ceremonial habit, made its way to the front of the protest at 5:30 pm. It was accompanied by strong, solemn melodies intoned on the bagpipes. The expansive gathering of over 600 faithful soon filled the ambience with prayers of the rosary, litanies, and songs offered to console the Blessed Mother and Our Lord Jesus Christ.
The hostility to the presence of so many Catholics peacefully protesting was widespread and constant. A group of anarchists wearing Guy Fawkes masks staked out some park benches and heckled many Catholics passing by. Protestant preachers of varying stripes taunted the crowd, shouting insults against Our Lady and openly attacking Church teaching. Signs carried by atheists and satanists displayed vulgarities and offensive messages. Far from discouraging Our Lady’s devotees gathered there, those opposed gave the atmosphere a strong note of combativity, with the Catholics present boldly responding with prayers and songs and successfully drowning out those trying to impede them.
Americans Express their Indignation
Locals from Oklahoma, as well as faithful from over a dozen other states, made the journey to take a public stand against satanism. The protest was graced with the presence of Bishop Kemme of Wichita, Kansas, who arrived at the head of busloads of his flock to lead the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. As the bishop departed, the evening sun sank behind the building and clouds overhead let forth a brief shower. At the beginning of the litany of Saint Michael, a rainbow stretched out across the sky overlooking the protesters who were invoking the Prince of the Heavenly Armies. Shortly afterward, a man dressed as Satan approached the venue, but when those gathered quickly began praying continuously the prayer to Saint Michael, he departed and was not seen again.
With the protest coming to a close, participants eagerly voiced their impressions. Lisa from Oklahoma City expressed her awe at the numbers who came, saying, “It’s so great to be Catholic!”
Charles from Port Arthur, Texas, summed up his thoughts saying, “This is just the beginning. This protest shows plain as day we have a real fight on our hands.”
A couple who travelled all the way from New Jersey eagerly shared their confidence in the power of prayer: “Satan is no match for the power of the Blessed Mother. If we call on her, we know she’ll bring a victory.”
Rosa and Maria from Tulsa admitted to tearing up several times, especially when the statue of Our Lady of Fatima was carried off at the conclusion to the singing of Hail, Holy Queen. They both stated emphatically, “We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Satan’s Goal and Our Response
Since his fall from grace, Lucifer’s goal for mankind has been clear. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Satan tempts Our Lord by showing Him all the kingdoms of the world and proclaims, “All this will be yours if you fall down and worship me.” (Matt 4: 8-9) The Father of Lies desires the same from all mankind: the worship and adoration rightfully belonging to God alone.
The Prince of Darkness burns with the desire to be publicly honored and revered. This “black mass” on public property in Oklahoma City with the complicity of city officials marks a sinister symbolic step in that direction for America. A blatant and open sacrilegious act against the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on property funded by taxpaying Americans, in the words of Archbishop Coakley of Oklahoma City, “invokes the powers of evil and invites them into our community.”
Addressing the crowd of over 3,000 gathered for the Eucharistic Procession of Reparation, Archbishop Coakley declared, “The war has been won, though skirmishes will continue until Christ comes again in glory to reign forever. In the meantime we have been enlisted to bear the standard of the Cross and our share of the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church.”
With the forces of evil continuing their advance, our attitude at all times must reflect that of Our Lord when He proclaimed, “Be gone Satan: the Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him alone shalt thou serve!”(Matt 4:10)
Let us have full confidence in the Blessed Mother who crushes the proud head of the serpent, trusting in her promise at Fatima, “Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
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