| “ | Efforts are afoot to rebuilt Riverdale. But this town shan't be saved until its soul is saved. Now, give yourselves over to the holy sweetness. Drink of his sweet water and be saved. [...] The sweetness of this water comes from a son who died for the sins and the darkness of this world. I speak of my son, Jason. For years, I searched to find meaning in his death. But then, I realized something. Jason was a sacrifice to lay bare the sins of this accursed place. And now its up to us to shepherd the soul of this township back into the light. To that end, if you have any coins or bills that you can spare... Even a penny will help to ensure Riverdale's spiritual feature. | ” |
The Blossom Ministry is a spiritual group founded by Penelope Blossom around the murder of her late son, Jason Blossom. She administers sermons at Thornhill with the help of Cheryl. Cheryl eventually takes leadership of the Ministry, helped by Kevin Keller.
History[]
Blossom women pray at pagan altar
Following the mass escape from Lodge Detention Center, Penelope finds refuge at home. She arrives just in time, as someone has set their Maple groves on fire. Penelope suggests sacrificing Minerva Marble but when she escapes, the Blossom women just have to pray in the family chapel in front of a spooky altar with bones and candles.[1]
Penelope holds a sermon
Penelope begins her spiritual work, using Thornhill as the base of operations for her Ministry. Cheryl is skeptical and she thinks it's all a scam to get money out of the citizens left in Riverdale. Penelope is surprised that Cheryl doesn't believe in the Sweet Hereafter, but all the suffering and losses she has endured, Cheryl thinks we just rot after death. Penelope holds another sermon, in which she explains that her spiritual calling came when she realized that Jason's death was a sacrifice to lay bare the sins of Riverdale.
After Cheryl checked on Jason's burned skeleton that she keeps in a trunk, she has an epiphany where she believes she sees Jason, first as a red bird and then as a ghost next to their mother. Cheryl, then, decides to join the ministry.[2]
While Cheryl was strolling in Fox Forest, she spots Kevin and comments he has resumed cruising the woods.
The next day, at school, Cheryl invites Kevin to join them for the next meeting. Cheryl and Penelope host another service for their ministry. Kevin is in attendance but exits abruptly while they're on stage singing.
Kevin isn't very impressed with the whole thing but when Cheryl talks to him about her love affairs problems, she manages to recruit him into the cult. Cheryl and Penelope hold another service. She discusses how comforting those around them will lead to their own salvation. Closing out their service, Cheryl and Kevin, the ministry's new artistic director, sing the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. [3]
Cheryl receives stigmata
After Penelope thwarts Cheryl's authority in the Ministry, including vetoing songs claiming a "revelation from Jason", Kevin and Cheryl devise a plan to send her into shades forever. Cheryl has to manifest miracles allegedly sent from Jason. The First Miracle is to transform water into maple syrup, the nectar of the gods. The Second Miracle, manifesting the collective suffering of the congregation through stigmata; bleeding from the hands from supernatural causes. The Third and final Miracle is the Taming of the Bees. Penelope tries to hinder them, accusing them of being scammers. Kevin puts the Ministry in front of a choice: follow Cheryl, who shared the womb with Jason and performed miracles, or Penelope, a whoremonger ex convict? Cheryl also banishes Penelope, handling hives surrounded by hornets.
Later, Cheryl confesses that she hasn't used any trick or ointment to taming the bees. In fact, she has been feeling connected to things for some time as she hasn't in years. What if she really is the first-ever living saint, a "holiest of the holies"?[4]
Members[]
- Penelope Blossom (Minister; formerly)
- Cheryl Blossom (Minister)
- Rose Blossom
- Kevin Keller
- Unnamed members
Appearances[]
Season 5[]
- "Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man"
- "Chapter Eighty-Seven: Strange Bedfellows"
- "Chapter Eighty-Nine: Reservoir Dogs"
- "Chapter Ninety-Two: Band of Brothers"
- "Chapter Ninety-Three: Dance of Death" (mentioned)
- "Chapter Ninety-Five: Riverdale: RIP(?)" (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- The Blossom Ministry is the second cult lead by Penelope after Gryphons and Gargoyles.
- The ministry attire is the Blossom family's signature color, cherry red.
- The Blossom Ministry is but one of many family's references to the occult.
- In "Chapter Twenty-Three: Heavy is the Crown" of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina it was mentioned that Private Benjamin Blossom found King Herod's Crown and brought it to Riverdale.
- In "Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man", Penelope, Cheryl, and Nana Rose prayed at a pagan altar in their house to put out the Maple groves fire after they couldn't sacrifice Minerva.
- In "Chapter Two: A Touch of Evil", Alice Smith said the Blossom sacrifice people to pagan gods.
- In "Chapter Twelve: Anatomy of a Murder", Alice burst into the mansion in the middle of the night to rescue Polly, and called it the Blossom's Witching Hour.
- Penelope grows esoteric and poisonous herbs in the greenhouse, and they have many books on the occult like the one read by Cheryl to get rid of Julian the Doll.
- Cheryl's miracles are a nod to the Miracles of Sabrina Spellman from the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina episode of the same name.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Maroon, Chrissy (writer) & Correa, Gabriel (director) (March 31, 2021). "Chapter Eighty-Six: The Pincushion Man". Riverdale. Season 5. Episode 10. The CW.
- ↑ Allen, Aaron (writer) & Blake, Tessa (director) (August 11, 2021). "Chapter Eighty-Seven: Strange Bedfellows". Riverdale. Season 5. Episode 11. The CW.
- ↑ Kyle, Evan (writer) & Correa, Gabriel (director) (August 25, 2021). "Chapter Eighty-Nine: Reservoir Dogs". Riverdale. Season 5. Episode 13. The CW.
- ↑ Schoenberg, Janine Salinas (writer) & Givens, Robin (director) (September 15, 2021). "Chapter Ninety-Two: Band of Brothers". Riverdale. Season 5. Episode 16. The CW.