Black Mass canceled at Harvard, but thousands gather for prayer anyway

It isn't every day that a "conservative" protest is given much attention or ends successfully, but such was the case with yesterday's planned "reenactment" of a Black Mass on the campus of Harvard University.

Although Harvard University itself allowed the Black Mass - which President Faust called "abhorrent" - the Harvard Extension School Cultural Studies Club, which sponsored the Black Mass, decided (just shy of three hours before the scheduled time) to move the Black Mass off Harvard's campus because so-called “grave misinterpretations about the nature of the event were harming perceptions about Harvard and adversely impacting the student community.” Misinterpretations, indeed!

It should be noted that Harvard University itself did not ask the Cultural Studies Club to move or ask the club to cancel the planned worship of Satan on its campus. The Dean of Students and Alumni Affairs, Robert Neugeboren, said, “The Harvard Extension School is grateful the student group has recognized the strong concerns expressed by members of the Harvard community and beyond.” It strikes me as very curious that Harvard University itself did not fully recognize the same "strong concerns expressed by members of the Harvard community and beyond."

The Cultural Studies Club then sought a new location for the Black Mass:

The club wrote in its email around 5 p.m. that they planned for the event to be held at The Middle East nightclub in Central Square at 9 p.m. But Clay S. Fernald, the general manager of The Middle East, said Monday evening that the nightclub would not host the event, and that negotiations with the Harvard Extension Cultural Studies Club had fallen through.

Fernald declined to comment on why negotiations had ended.

Around 7 p.m., the Cultural Studies Club sent an email saying that they had been unable to find another location and would no longer sponsor the black mass, and individuals who intended to attend decided to migrate to the Hong Kong, at which the ceremony was revived.

At this point it is difficult to say just what happened at the Hong Kong Restaurant and Lounge. The Harvard Crimson offers this brief description:

About 50 people, mostly dressed in black and some wearing face makeup, were present for the ceremony. A consecrated host, believed by Catholics to be the body of Christ, was not used in the ritual.

Four individuals in hoods and one man in a white suit, a cape, and a horned mask were active in the proceedings, as well as a woman revealed to be wearing only lingerie. The ceremony began with a narration on the history underlying Satanism and the black mass ritual.

The restaurant’s owner, Paul Lee, said in a phone interview around 11 p.m. that he was unaware of the incident.

However, The Boston Globe reports that "a lounge employee, who would only identify himself as Fred, said in a phone interview that temple members were drinking at the bar, but he did not believe they were performing any rituals."

Although the Black Mass at Harvard University was cancelled, regardless of what occurred at the Hong Kong, a Eucharistic Holy Hour at St. Paul's church on the campus rightly continued as planned, attended by some 2,000 seeking to offer prayers of reparation to the Christ the Lord:

Black mass is canceled at Harvard but Catholic event is standing room only. See photo http://t.co/AhmgJgRvij pic.twitter.com/UZcMs7ylkT
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) May 13, 2014

And now a view from the other side:

God Bless the Catholic Community at Harvard- Church overflowing with 2000+ adoring Jesus in the Eucharist pic.twitter.com/YdwFm9M1vZ
— Fr Jim Chern (@FatherJimChern) May 13, 2014

Thanks to all who contacted Harvard University and offered prayers of reparation. Let the prayers continue in the days ahead!