St. Corona: Patron Saint of Pandemics

Well, what do you know?  There's actually a Patron Saint of Pandemics and her name is Corona.  I can't make this stuff up, people!

So much of the news focus of COVID-19 is about the impact that has been felt in Italy.  To continue the irony, relics of St. Corona can be found in Italy; in a basilica in the town of Anzu.

Whenever the story of St. Corona is recounted, her name is generally associated with that of another saint;  St. Victor.  As the story goes, St. Corona boldly pronounced her Christianity during the execution of St. Victor;  thus likewise setting the stage for her own subsequent torture and horrific execution.  According to traditional tales, Sebastian (a Roman judge) ordered that two palm trees be bowed down to the ground from their tops.  Once the tops of the palm trees were tied to the ground, St. Corona was tied to them both.  When the tethers that held the palm trees to the ground were cut, the force ripped poor Corona's body into two pieces....and some of you complain about missing basketball or being semi-quarantined to the comfort of your homes.

As I write this post, I'm also amazed at the readings associated with the Monday of the third week of Lent.  They have to do with healing of a highly contagious disease.   The first reading for today was from the 2nd Book of Kings, Chapter 5:  the story of the healing of Naaman, the leper, who was the servant of the king of Aram.  Elisha told Naaman to wash 7 times in the Jordan.  Naaman protested at first; but, eventually washed and was healed.  

The Gospel reading of the day was from Luke 4: 24-30 and it paralleled the first reading.  This is the verse wherein Jesus claimed that no prophet is accepted in his native place.  Jesus goes on to remind folks that there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the Prophet; but, not one of them was cleansed....only the foreigner Naaman was cleansed of leprosy and he was from Syria.  In another twist of irony, St. Corona was said to have been martyred in Syria.

So there you go.  Highlights from today's daily readings and a little bit of history regarding St. Corona, said to be put to death circa 170 A.D.