Over the past couple of months, there has been a circulating
story of St. Corona, patroness against epidemics. What are the odds that a
Roman martyr named Corona would be there ready to pray for our protection
against a virus of the same name?
It is true there is a saint Corona. She is also called
Stephanie. Each means “crown” in Latin and Greek, respectfully, for the vision
she had. She was born in the Roman Empire in the second century. At a young age
she married a soldier.
One day she witnessed another soldier (though some suggest
it was her husband), Victor, being tortured for his Christian beliefs. She
immediately had a vision of two crowns falling from the sky, one for him and
the other for her. When she announced her vision and said that Victor was a blessed
man, she was also condemned.
Both were martyred. Victor was victorious
in death. Corona received her crown. Their feast day is May 14.
While their story is mostly legend,
there is no record of them being patrons of plague or epidemics until this
year. St. Corona has traditionally been a patron of fortune, called upon for
gambling or treasure hunting. Yet most patron of plague or disease gained that
patronage as plagues spread through regions, and people called upon more and
more saints for protection. So Corona may be taking up a new cause as people
learn her and Victor’s story and ask for her intercession against the current
coronavirus and the economic fallout.
No comments:
Post a Comment