A Reflection by Fr. James Martin, S.J.

The coronavirus pandemic is confusing and frightening for hundreds of millions of people.  That is not surprising.  Many around the world are sick and many others have died.  Unless the situation changes dramatically, many more will fall ill and die around the globe.  This crisis raises serious medical, ethical and logistical questions.  But it raises additional questions for people of faith.  So I would like to offer some advice from the Christian tradition, Ignatian spirituality and my own experience.

Resist panic.  This is not to say there is no reason to be concerned, or that we should ignore the sound advice of medical professionals and public health experts.  But panic and fear are not from God.  Calm and hope are.  And it is possible to respond to a crisis seriously and deliberately while maintaining an inner sense of calm and hope.

St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, often talked about two forces in our interior lives: one that draws us toward God and the other away from God.  The one that draws us away from God, which he labeled the evil spirit, “causes gnawing anxiety, saddens and sets up obstacles.  In this way it unsettles people by false reasons aimed at preventing their progress.”  Sound familiar?  Don’t lend credence to lies or rumors, or give in to panic.  Trust what medical experts tell you, not those who fear monger.  There is a reason they call Satan the “Prince of Lies.”

Panic, by confusing and frightening you, pulls you away from the help God wants to give you.  It is not coming from God.  What is coming from God?  St. Ignatius tells us: God’s spirit “stirs up courage and strength, consolations, inspirations and tranquility.”  So trust in the calm and hope you feel.  That is the voice to listen to.

“Do not be afraid!,” as Jesus said many times.

Do not demonize.  The other day, a friend told me that when an elderly Chinese man got onto a subway car in New York City, the car emptied out as people started shouting slurs at him, blaming his country for spreading the virus.  Resist the temptation to demonize or scapegoat, which increases in time of stress and shortages.  Covid-19 is not a Chinese disease; it is not a “foreign” disease.  It is no one’s “fault.”  Likewise, the people who become infected are not to blame.  Remember that Jesus was asked about a blind man: “Who sinned, that this man was born blind?”  Jesus’ response: “No one” (Jn 9:2).  Illness is not a punishment.  So don’t demonize and don’t hate.

Many things have been cancelled because of the coronavirus.  Love is not one of them.

Care for the sick.  This pandemic may be a long haul; some of our friends and family may get sick and perhaps die.  Do what you can to help others, especially the elderly, disabled, poor and isolated.  Take the necessary precautions; don’t be reckless and don’t risk spreading the disease, but also don’t forget the fundamental Christian duty to help others.  “I was sick, and you came to visit me,” said Jesus (Mt 25).  And remember that Jesus lived during a time when people had no access to even the most rudimentary medical care, and so visiting the sick was just as dangerous, if not more, than it is today.  Part of the Christian tradition is caring for the sick, even at some personal cost.

And do not close your hearts to the poor and those who have no or limited healthcare.  Refugees, the homeless and migrants, for example, will suffer even more than the general population.  Keep your heart open to all those in need.  Don’t let your conscience become infected, too.

Pray.  Catholic churches around the world are closing, with Masses and other parish services cancelled by many bishops.  These are prudent and necessary measures designed to keep people healthy.  But they come at some cost:  For many people, this removes one of the most consoling parts of their lives—the Mass and the Eucharist—and isolates them even more from the community at a time when they most need support.

What can one do instead?  Well, there are many televised and livestreamed Masses available, as well as ones broadcast on the radio.  But even if you can’t find one, you can pray on your own.  When you do, remember that you’re still part of a community.  There is also the longstanding tradition in our church of receiving a “spiritual communion,” when, if you cannot participate in the Mass in person, you unite yourself with God in prayer.

And be creative.  You can meditate on the Sunday Gospel on your own, consult a Bible commentary about the readings, gather your family to talk about the Gospel or call friends and share your experiences of how God is present to you, even in the midst of a crisis.  The persecuted Christians in the early church prayed and shared their faith in the catacombs, and we can do the same.  Remember that Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Mt. 18:20).  Remember too that the church is not a building.  It is the community.

Trust that God is with you.  Many people, especially those who are sick, may feel a sense of isolation that compounds their fear.  And many of us, even if we’re not infected, will know people who are sick and even die.  So most will naturally ask:  Why is this happening?

There is no satisfactory answer to that question, which at its core is the question of why suffering exists, something that saints and theologians have pondered over the centuries.  In the end, it is the greatest of mysteries.  And the question is: Can you believe in a God that you don’t understand?

At the same time, we know that Jesus understands our suffering and accompanies us in the most intimate of ways.  Remember that during his public ministry Jesus spent a great deal of time with those who were sick.  And before modern medicine, almost any infection could kill you.  Thus, lifespans were short: only 30 or 40 years.  In other words, Jesus knew the world of illness.

Jesus, then, understands all the fears and worries that you have.  Jesus understands you, not only because he is divine and understands all things but because he is human and experienced all things.  Go to him in prayer.  And trust that he hears you and is with you.

Trust in my prayers, too.  We will move through this together, with God’s help.

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19):

With the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, we are confronted once more with the fragility of our lives, and again we are reminded of our common humanity — that the peoples of this world are our brothers and sisters, that we are all one family under God.

God does not abandon us, he goes with us even now in this time of trial and testing.  In this moment, it is important for us to anchor our hearts in the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  Now is the time to intensify our prayers and sacrifices for the love of God and the love of our neighbor.  Let us draw closer to one another in our love for him, and rediscover the things that truly matter in our lives.

United with our Holy Father Pope Francis, let us pray in solidarity for our brothers and sisters here and around the world who are sick.  Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones to this virus.  May God console them and grant them peace.

We pray also for doctors, nurses, and caregivers, for public health officials and all civic leaders.  May God grant them courage and prudence as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in service to the common good.

In this time of need, I invite all the faithful to seek together the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I share this prayer with you:  

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe,
Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas.
We fly to you today as your beloved children.
We ask you to intercede for us with your Son,
as you did at the wedding in Cana.

Pray for us, loving Mother,
and gain for our nation and world,
and for all our families and loved ones,
the protection of your holy angels,
that we may be spared the worst of this illness.

For those already afflicted,
we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance.
Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful,
wipe away their tears and help them to trust.

In this time of trial and testing,
teach all of us in the Church to love one another and to be patient and kind.
Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts.

We come to you with confidence,
knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother,
health of the sick and cause of our joy.

Shelter us under the mantle of your protection,
keep us in the embrace of your arms,
help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

The same morning the announcement was made by the Holy See, staff members of the Buffalo Catholic Center, as well as the media, met Bishop Scharfenberger.  The bishop told his new staff and the press that he feels like the neighbor "down the block" coming to offer some help to a suffering family.

He made it clear that he received no marching orders from the Vatican and has no special agenda.  His number one priority is openness of conversation, particularly with those who are suffering the most.  "Never be afraid to come forward.  You will be treated with respect," he promised.   Another goal is to tap into the talent and resources of the laity.  Rather than be a "fix-it man," Bishop Scharfenberger wants to stimulate and enhance good lay leadership, which would be in place when a new bishop is appointed.

Following Pope Francis' desire for an open Church, Bishop Scharfenberger promised his staff a relaxed atmosphere where people can talk.  He sees his role as a spiritual father.  When one employee asked about accountability being addressed, the bishop declared, "I want it all out there.  No hidden corners."  With no formal briefing on the Diocese of Buffalo, as he did when he was named bishop of Albany, he expects information to come in from diocesan offices and institutions in the next few weeks.  "I'd rather come in with an open mind and listen to everybody," he said, adding he plans to use the resources of his Albany staff in Buffalo. "We're going to have the resources of two dioceses helping one another," he said. "I think we'll be alright."

The Brooklyn-born bishop is able to quickly tell stories of St. Augustine, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and St. Francis of Assisi who lived lives of secular desires before turning back to the Lord, and relates it to the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.  Everyone reaches a moment when they say I can't go on like this.  "The Church is coming to a point like that.  We can't go on like this.  We have to stop being afraid, stop being defensive, stop the siege mentality - us and them.  To me this can be a great example to all of us about how faith heals," he said.  This is about people who broke their vows.  This is about institutional failure as well, failure to protect the innocent.  It's not new in the world.  It's always been here.  We've been in denial about it for a long period of time.  Now it's an opportunity to look it in the face and say, 'No more.'  But, we're not going to save ourselves.  We need a Savior.  That's why we're going to pray together.  We're going to stick together.  We're going to suffer together.  And we're going to rise together."