Rita Fusco, a 55-year-old catholic schoolteacher from New Jersey without underlying health issues and 4 other family members, died of COVID-19. An unbearable tragedy for a family who recently attended a family gathering. This invisible virus is taking lives and causing havoc around the globe.
So far it has spreads across 168 countries worldwide, has infected 287,000 and ended the lives of 12,755 people. COVID-19 has forced everyone and everywhere to a standstill. In this scary time, let us turn to St. Joseph,a serene, silent and strong man, who managed many unexpected crises.
Faced with difficult choices, Joseph was oscillating between complex emotions, especially with the question of accepting Mary as his wife.
When he discovered her pregnancy, he secretly decided to avoid her by gently walking away at night without blaming or betraying anyone, especially Mary (Gentleness). Joseph neither ignored the dream, nor did he harden his heart through self-perpetuating patterns and behaviors, but payed attention to the Angel’s voice in the dream (Openness). Gave up the instinctive desire to follow the comfortable path of evading the entire situation and decided to dig deeper to accommodate the new vision and alter his patterns and behaviors to follow and fulfill the new (Dream).
This virus is novel and spreading much faster. Therefore, it is important that we remain open and curious to learn every day and educate ourselves. Let us also pray that the world’s leading experts and institutions may share all the information needed to work together to encounter this pandemic with grit and grace.
Like St Joseph, take in our MTA and offer ourselves up for her: CoronaMater.
Model best behavior to stem the spread of covid19 (6 feet distance is the best expression of love for now).
Track and Transcend our unhygienic patterns and behaviors (touching of our own face, people and other surfaces)
Above all, Abide in God’s love to grow in deeper trust in troubled times.
United in our MTA,
Fr. Pushpa
Regional Movement Director USA