True to its own dark humor, the Satanic Temple is ruffling Catholic feathers once again after announcing it will host its first "Black Mass" in Canada.
The private ceremony will be a 50-seat pre-registered affair that will include chants, burlesque, a "Satanic Unbaptism" and a sock drive for homeless shelters. Ottawa's The Koven will hold the event on August 17, a heavy metal bar whose menu includes various grilled Cheesus sandwiches, a Lamb of God baguette and a Baphomet Burger.
Described simply, a black mass is really just a modern inversion - or parody - of the traditional Latin Roman Catholic Mass. While there is no set format or guidebook, it will often include music, chants, and the desecration of Christian symbols.
Demons, Sacrifice, and Sexual Rituals, Oh My!
Event organizers say there's nothing to be afraid of, despite the scary name. They're describing the upcoming Black Mass as "an expression of personal liberty and freedom." Still, while the Ottawa event is unlikely to contain anything terribly objectionable, historical instances of so-called black masses have also included demon worship, child sacrifices, and bizarre sexual rituals.
In the fourth century, Heresiologist Epiphanius of Salamis, for example, wrote of a libertine Gnostic sect known as the Borborites that would smear their hands with menstrual blood and semen and consume them as the respective blood and body of Christ during their Eucharist. British occult historian Richard Cavendish, meanwhile, penned a "factual" secondhand report by a French journalist who attended a black mass in 1889 and then wrote about it in Le Matin. The account detailed how an orgy ensued after mass was read over the naked body of a woman stretched out on an altar.
Mass Controversy
Modern black masses continue to prove equally controversial, if less eventful.
One held in Oklahoma City in 2014 attracted hundreds of protesters, including a Catholic protestor named Francis Slobodnik, who drove in all the way from Kansas simply to decry "the most grievous offense against God you can commit." Harvard University also moved a similar event off-campus due to public pressure.
The Satanic Temple uses such emotionally charged events to make statements about the place of religion in modern society.
It erected a sculpture celebrating Satan, called "Knowledge is the Greatest Gift", in the Illinois Capitol rotunda holiday display, and filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri challenging their "informed consent" laws for abortions.
Delightfully Devilish
National Coordinator for the Satanic Temple in Canada Nicholas Marc hopes to assuage fears that his group has ill intent. He insists most Satanists in his group worship individual liberty more than they do the devil as some purveyor of cosmic evil.
"We do not believe in harm to any being what so ever. It's not meant to be an attack on another group. It's supposed to be cathartic for those who practice it."
So what's the big deal? Do Catholics have a right to fear black masses, or are they playing right into the devil's punch line?
UPDATE: August 20, 2019
As expected, Christian protesters turned out in droves on Saturday night to protest the event that was designed to elicit that exact reaction. Coming from as far away as Toronto, seven priests and over 120 Catholics stood on the steps of the Notre Dame Cathedral near the Koven bar where, inside, the Black Mass took place. "It's a blasphemous act," proclaimed protester John Pacheco to CTV News Ottawa. Pacheco, who blogged about his experience, said protesters arrived to show both their "opposition and also our love."
While the actual events of the Black Mass are currently shrouded in mystery, organizer Nicholas Marc said they "had a full sold-out crowd. We sadly were not able to let everyone in who showed up, but the response was overwhelming. We did it."
53 comments
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Jeffrey Frye D. D.
Being an ordained minister with the honorary degree for Doctor of Divinity and having read this article I felt better at coming out as both a Satanist as well as a proud member of the Satanic Temple! Honestly, I am not a spokes person of TST but can speak as an individual member. That said I felt that this article was very well written and informative! Thanks for the article and am on to search this blog for similar articles!
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William Waugh
Again, here we have gone over the top to embrace controversial concepts in the public arena. As I am developing a belief in the concept that the universe itself is conscience, even particles at the molecular and quantum have (something to do) Maybe the quantum field network is the "gods" neural net.... but I digress. ......point is, no angels no spooky ghosts and no devil. All mental creations to tell a moral story.....going public with the devil just invites the wrath of believers. Sometimes, strategically it may be better to lay low that wear our beliefs on our sleeves. Secular society can be advanced in better ways than convincing believers around the world that the west IS a satanic cult to be exterminated. Get a.job.and vote. Then shut up, there is no more to do publicly when national enemies are nuclear armed or wannabes.
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Jeffrey Frye D. D.
I'd mostly agree! In fact the only thing I disagree with here is the comment of "Get a.job.and vote." My issue here is when a religious organization, in this case an evangelical Christian organization, is allowed to place a religious monument up on public property then it opens the door for others, the Satanic Temple for example, to do likewise! Honestly I wish it was as simple as voting then sitting and shutting up, especially with nuclear threat and a whole list of other important issues, but the reality is that it's more complex than that! This is why I'm a member of TST instead of any other satanic organization! This one caviot aside we agree on everything else that you said as I believe that the American cultural image should be a pluralistic one and not one where one ideology, religious or otherwise, has taken presidency over all others!
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William Waugh
Thank you for your support!....borrowed from an old Bartles & James commercial.
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Carl Elfstrom
Some people seem to have a hard time letting go of previous articles. We must move on!
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CJ
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:5-7. I am a Christian, but I've studied every theology and religious philosophy I have time to study. Don't protest things publicly. Shoot out a prayer and be a good person. ..personally a heavy metal bar sounds like a BLAST to me!
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Matthew Wolfson
"Get a job"? Really? You might be in for shock when you find out what some of us Satanist take to the bank.
Espousing "the devil" is no more or less relevant in any context than espousing "God". That's the whole point, to emphasize the subjective nature of religious mythos. If nobody wants to see a Baphamet outside their library, then then must concede that some people also don't want to see relics of a racist, misogynist Semitic culture either.
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Lori
It's one way of pushing back. It lets the Christian community know they will not be alone in their strife to bring their beliefs to the public eye. The Christians opened the door by thrusting their faith at the world. Their children are, and will continue to be, exposed to a vast variety of beliefs systems because of it. For those who believe in the devil, life will become increasingly difficult for them, mentally. It's time to rise above the god vs devil way of looking at the spirituality.
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Jeffrey Frye D. D.
Oh absolutely! The good verses evil might be good for story time but we're living in a time when we need to transcend such spiritual constructs!
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Lori
Yes. Each person perceives spirituality differently. They take thought forms from any number of belief systems and build a fascinating spiritual world that can bring them comfort, or it can terrify them, but most don't recognize that it is of their own making and they have the ability to mold it however they would like. Religion is simply our way of connecting to forces we cannot comprehend. So many would rather be told by someone else, what spirituality is.
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Jeffrey Frye D. D.
I completely agree with you and that's my point here! Sometimes it's OK to agree with someone! I know that by the end of the day my spiritual path is what I mold it into but one of the guy's that has colored some of my spiritual ideas is Jason King who authored Postmodern Satanism! I have personally meet the guy and he's awesome but what's ironic is that in spite of writing one of the best books on satanic thought that I have read in quite some time Jason has gone on record to me directly that by the end of the day he's a Buddhist and I'm OK with that because even though I'm an ordained minister and a satanist by day I'm a musician by the end of the day!
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Lori
So your words "Satanic and Black Mass" are mainly for the shock value. You want to elevate and disturb, through your religious projections, those who are already mentally charged and misguided by the 'god vs devil' thing. It seems our core beliefs are similar in that we both focus on the universal energies. The difference being is the core VALUE. You use the universal energies to disrupt and tear down bridges. I use them to bring balance and harmony, and to build bridges. Good and evil may not exist on the spiritual plane, but it is alive and well in the minds of human beings. I see no value in trying to inject more chaos into the already stressed real world we live in.
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William Waugh
Excellant answer Lori. I need the sound effect of a room full of raunchy stomping feet! Here, hear!
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Lori
You're funny, William!
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Carl Elfstrom
Balance is the key. A little evil can be a lot of fun. We must not deny ourselves the experience of being fully human, while we are human, which includes self gratification, as long as we cause no harm in the process. I have read part of Anton Lacey's bestseller, as well as the Necronomicon. It doesn't hurt to be well informed. Someday, hopefully soon, I hope to listen to Judas Priest's Nostradamus in its entirety. Be there, or be square.
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Carl Elfstrom
I don't know why the mischievous poltergeist that possesses my android phone changed the name Lavey into Lacey in my above comment, but it often has fun like that at my expense, when I don't proofread. Im grateful for it for helping me get better at proofreading, but I'm not perfect at it yet, so I better let it stick around for a while, before exorcising my phone.
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Lori
Self gratification is only evil if you see it that way. Evil is Catholic priests molesting young boys or someone shooting people at Walmart for ha-has and prejudice. From what I've read from you, you don't even come close to evil, unless you'd like to think of yourself that way. If so, sorry I tried to take that from you. Be fully human. Knock yourself out.
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Sandra Lent
Very well said, Lori
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Carl Elfstrom
I'm not a Satanist Jeffrey, but that Black Mass sounds like a lot of fun to this natural, eclectic, solitary Wiccan. However, I couldn't possibly give up my membership in the Craft, or quit flying my besom around the moon with other Witches during esbats. However, maybe in a future incarnation I'll sell my soul. It's definitely something worth considering. We need good, intelligent Satanists like you as active contributors on this blog. My hat's off to you, sir. Please, keep coming back.
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Carl Elfstrom
I had a prophetic vision in which I saw that someday soon this blog will be henceforth and forevermore free of all the flugos, and the rest of prolific christiandom at its worst. Then we can get down to some truly spiritual matters.
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Carl Elfstrom
P.S. It's just like that Holy song by Queen goes "Another one bites the dust".
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Jeffrey Frye D. D.
I'm loving the comments here! I was nervous about coming out of the satanic closet until I saw the article on the black Mass in Canada!
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Amy Varela
I joined the TST because I like their non-theistic religion and to support what they are doing in places like Arkansas and Missouri. They only go where Christians are claiming public access in order to show that freedom of religion does not apply only to Christianity. I do not, nor does the TST in general, believe in a literal Satan, nor do they worship him. Satan is used as a character that evokes certain emotions and thoughts in those who believe the bible. If Christians can use the bible to discriminate, than why not use the bible to frighten Christians?
Or at least attempt to teach them that religious freedom does not only apply to them.
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Ange
Dr. Frye keep keeping on Sir! Love the comments and even more the acceptance of differences! ❤️????
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Carl Elfstrom
I was nervous about coming out of the broom closet as Wiccan in highschool, and repercussions from having done so anyway led to me quitting school in my senior year. Now, at 56, I'm still glad I did both of those things, and would never consider putting anyone down for coming out of any kind of closet. Be yourself, when and where it's right for you, but make sure it's right for you, so you won't have any regrets.
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Carl Elfstrom
Lori, I didn't say I was evil, but that a little evil can be fun. And there are a lot of other things that are evil than the two extremes you mentioned. I have found it best to achieve and maintain balance, as it states in the Kybalion of Hermes Trismegistus by Three Initiates. Such balance in life doesn't stop when it gets to good and evil. Anyone who thinks he or she is going to reach nirvana (oneness with the creator, The All, the ultimate unknowable dirty, etc.) by being all good, all the time (like Jesus or Siddhartha Goitama) after this incarnation is blowing smoke up his or her own ass. There are a lot of different kinds of good and evil. My leatherbound Compact Oxford Dictionary from the Folio Society, Third edition (revised) 2008 defines evil as 1. very immoral, cruel, and wicked.2. associated with the devil : evil spirits 3. very unpleasant: an evil smell. So take your pick. English words cannot be given personal difinitions. This article has something to do with a black mass. A black mass is a ritual in Satanism. Satan is also known as the devil, and is associated with not good, but evil. And by the third definition "an evil smell" I may have been talking about farting loudly in public. However, I'm also a fan of Rob Halford, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, and love Eagles' song Hotel California, all of which the morals of most Christians label as evil. And the dictionary defines morals as an individuals set of principles. And by that, in some ways, what's evil to some is good for others. So, no more tears, for all in all it's just a hand in the bush, in the bush, in the bush. And, "Pleased to meet you, won't you guess my name."
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Carl Elfstrom
P.S. Some of us might not even have to sell our souls, depending on where our spirits came from before our births. And don't forget, us Wiccans are not the ones who turn the other cheek. There is great power in words. Blessed be !
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Amber Castleman
Satanism never enlightens they always undermine infact they are the reasons why we have wars these days look as our ISIS terrorist attacks they are somewhat satanic and kill many Christians including Catholics just like Satanic worshippers do to us Christians and us Catholics even a Jahovah Witnesses do the same things
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Lionheart
Please can you explain how satanic worshippers do things to you Christians? Also bear in mind how the Christians created untold amounts of torture, death, and mayhem to those who were not Christian prior to the reformation.
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Pete
That's a lot of word porridge thrown in there with no clear links between them all. It's like a random word generator trying to say that blue causes eggs to war on dirty dishes. Next up; watch this youtube video to prove chemtrails are real and causing frogs to turn gay.
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Ange
???? great post!
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Pete
Thank you. :)
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Oh Mo
"Word porridge" is no my go-to phrase. Thanks!?????
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Pete
No problems. I get tired of having to try to understand some ramblings as if it's my responsibility to interpret it correctly, so I use it as a "please try again, and this time, consider your audience rather than treating this as time with your psychiatrist". ;)
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Tabz
I'm with Lionheart on this one, Amber. Could you please elaborate on your assertion of a connection between a radicalized MUSLIM terrorist group and Satanists? Also, if you could comment on your views of the Crusades? I'm always curious as to how true zealots feel about so much sin being committed in the name of a "loving" deity...
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Amber
Frankly I don't see the point in degrading other religions. If you believe, then practice. If you don't then don't. Leave others to their own decision regardless of their beliefs so long as they are not harming anyone else and this wouldn't be an issue.
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Minister Walls
We know that satan exist.This undermines the good of God.Stay vigilant where these groups are concerned?
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Lionheart
No, we don’t know Satan exists. Being as Satan is a creation of the mythical god mentioned in the Bible, he too must also be mythical.
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Rev. B.H.
Ditto!
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Lori
So many Christians attempt to spread more fear and impending doom than the Satanists do. They have a need to manipulate and control the spiritual direction of others. The sad thing is most don't even know they're doing it. It's just so ingrained they can't help themselves. People that push the god/devil thing have stopped growing. They've become prisoners of their own BS and cannot see the good in anything, but themselves. They believe that good is God, when in fact it is very far removed from God.
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Pete
Many abandon spirituality, instead relying on following a manual and interpreting it to suit their own ends to tell them they are good people. It's easier to have someone who has read it tell them what to believe and reassure them rather than read it and work it out themselves.
I've found a lot of "off the shelf" believers, and they're the ones who tend to treat the various god-books very literally but according to their own bias.
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Hazel D Graep
Did you know that Satanists use the inverted pentagram, not the upright one. I was shocked to see you using the upright pentagram, a symbol of my faith - benign faith - incorrectly.
So far as Satanism itself is concerned, as long as they aren't doing anything illegal, why not just let them be?
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Tabz
The inverted pentacle is not only used by Satanists. It is also used by many Pagans and Wiccans to represent the second degree, or the "decent in to self" part of contemporary Craft studies. It represents the search for the truth within as well as finding Balance between the mundane and material worlds.
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Oh Mo
I want religious freedom, but only for those who believe as I do.
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Rev. B.H.
I would rather have a burlesque show, lots of alcohol and "unbaptisms" (hilarious!) here at my house than those dour, humorless Catholics chanting ancient nonsense.
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Pete
Well, from what I've seen and experienced, I'd say that the conduct of "Satanists" is much more in line with what Christians should actually adhere to. They seem to be concerned more for the welfare of others and less about telling others what is and isn't right. I thought that was a much more Christian thing to do.
Satanists: More Christian than Christians. Sounds like a Rob Zombie track. :D
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Secretary3rd
So what all it does is give other religion a taste of what ever they are preaching. With all this holy words has any of it every done anything to cure something as cancer. With every one selling their faiths you would think that God All Mighty would get tired of all that noise and put is foot down.
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Paul Ramsey
If everyone would stop talking about religion and practiced it personally, We could have some kinda of peace. Everybody so worried about what everyone else is doing. Shut up and listen to your kids. They are the ones who see you as Gods in their world. We all seen are Elders like that at one point. We have an obligation to the children and Women the rear them. Their are more people who would rather live the best life they can without having to deal with religious conflict. We are all tied to one so respecting another practice is the one true law. This will only show the Children how to be good people. And if I can practice my religion and not directly talk about it what the Fuck is wrong with the World. When it comes to me I am Paul. That is my main religion I bereave in me you and the thing around us. Yes I bereave in God and Jesus but my understanding is different. The only thing I care for are the Kids who will have to take care of this dying would of ours and Us the older people. Yet if racism religious Conflict and hate isn't eradicated we will only stay as human as the pass. Disclaimer: I don't have any kids, I'm only 33, and I'm a Brown-Skin American.
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dragonlord3759
iv never posted anything before anywhere but all this bickering about whether there is a God or a Satin or any of it is ridicules'. I'm here to tell you that there is a God he was created by his mother the Goddess, who pulled herself up out of the consciousness stream that was in the beginning along with the beast the universe who is all energy, and created herself by drawing in energy from the beast. She saw the universe was empty and decided it needed something more as women tend to like to decorate, so she created God her son to create the heavens and the planets so she gathered up a consciousness out of the stream and some energy and set him to work. First he made his minions to distribute the creations he made throughout the universe the angels and such. He created Lucifer he wanted him to be his foreman to oversee the everyday work because he was going to be busy creating things, but the Goddess had other ideas she created God 2 and put him in charge. I could get into more details but that is basically the beginning of things and if you need to know I'm a Christian and a little of everything else rolled into one, because they all have some bearings in the truth. For you Satanist that were commenting Lucifer is the head and then Satan who there are many for different worlds each has its own. Only one Lucifer and then the devil who is generally not so smart and that is why most people who make a deal with him can find loopholes to get out of it and there may be several of them on each planet or just one depending the size and population of the planet. Ours has one that I know of he is a little smarter than most and has more demons and other minions at his disposal for doing the work. For you Christians out there Jesus is a God also he is the son of God but because God had sex with Mary as a god and didn't take her virginity that makes him a God if he would have had it with her in human form then she would have lost her virginity and he would be a demi god. There are many gods and goddesses out there for each planet to help keep them going well. Because the one true God doesn't have time for all the ones he creates, but the more people believe and pray to him alone the less power they have because he can draw power from the universe, but planetary gods and goddesses can only get power from prayer.Its the same with the devil and Satin and Lucifer they draw their power from prayer and from bad things happening. Next time I will answer if anyone wants to know about the battle for heaven, and anything else if someone wants to know. To get back to the subject at hand these things like the black mass do give power to Satin because they cause such anger and hatred other than that it wouldn't be a problem it would be just another day of fun and games if it hurts no one else do it I think the saying is. My punctuation is going to be terrible but I will go through and try to correct some. I had a college professor who liked my writing and when I apologized for my punctuation he said that is for the editor to worry about. Thank you I always get into these so late because I must get the email late or something, so I don't comment but this time I had to even if no one reads it because I'm so late. Love you all so much may not like what you do but love the being mind and body separation love everyone that way.
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Lionheart
It's a very interesting story dragonlord, but can you demonstrate in any way that what you are saying is true, or is it just your belief system kicking in?
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Oliver Dmello
All hail Satan!!!To hell with Jesus Christ!!!Jesus is not God.Jesus is not the son of God.Satan rules!!!
I guess it can't be any worse that any other worship practice if people get comfort from it.
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That is a very wise view Lionheart.