The infamous "black mass" scheduled to be held at the Civic Center Music Hall on Sept. 21 is either sold-out or souled out, depending upon who you talk to.
Adam Daniels, the leader of the satanic group Dakhma of Angra Mainyu Syndicate, which is hosting the event, said all seats will be filled when the black mass will take place in the Civic Center's City Space Theater in the building's basement, according to The Oklahoman.
"We've been sold out for about a week and a half," Daniels said Friday.
"I'm very glad that we get the opportunity to share with people what Satanism really is and not Hollywood portrays it to be," Daniels said. "They like to say satanists get together and sacrifice animals and people, and that's not what we do."
Jennifer Lindsey-McClintock, spokeswoman for the Civic Center, confirmed all of the 88 tickets available for the event have been sold. She said the City Space Theater seats 92, but Daniels had about four tickets that he planned to distribute at his discretion, according to The Oklahoman.
The black mass has drawn widespread interest from around the world since news of it made headlines in July.
The attention - a veritable firestorm - continues as the event draws near:
Daniels said a major television network is sending a film crew to follow him on the day before and day off the event, according to The Oklahoman.
The Rev. Don Wolf, pastor of St. Eugene Catholic Church, said he was interviewed a few days ago by a Miami, Fla., radio station that wanted to know what Oklahomans think about the controversial satanic event.
Steve Hill, Oklahoma City Mayor Mike Cornett's chief of staff, said the mayor's office received 1,000 emails - from Germany - protesting the city allowing satanists to use a public building for an event mocking Christianity.
Wolf and several local priests said Oklahoma City metro-area Catholics are battling the satanic event through prayer, as their leader, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, urged them to, according to The Oklahoman.
In August, Coakley called on Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City to wage a campaign of prayer against the black mass and its organizers. He asked parishes to conclude each Mass with the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel through Sept. 29.
The archbishop also scheduled a prayer service and outdoor procession and benediction at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1901 NW 18, on the same afternoon as the black mass.
Local priests said many of the faithful plan to attend Coakley's prayer service to pray corporately about the black mass
The satanic event which appears to mock the sacred ritual of the Eucharist or Communion, continues to trouble Catholic parishioners, the priests said.
The Rev. Rick Stansberry, pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church in Nichols Hills, said he has seen a renewed interest in the Eucharist since the news of the black mass began circulating in the metro.
The Rev. Ray Ackerman, pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, said several of his parishioners have said they have traveled downtown to walk around the Civic Center and pray, according to The Oklahoman.
"Some have quietly taken it upon themselves to do that. I think it's laudable," he said.
Wolf said some faithful likely have been praying for the souls of the individuals hosting the black mass. He said Coakley has said he is concerned because evoking the Devil through rituals is not something "people should play with.
"To engage in this is to open the window up to the presence of forces that are not to be trifled with," Wolf said, according to The Oklahoman.
