The CORONAVIRUS:

God’s Plan and Our Response

BY REV. JOSEPH M. ESPER

I s the recently-arrived coronavirus

a punishment for humanity’s sins?
Could it be God is using this growing
production lines are stilled, finan-
cial markets are struggling, medical
supplies and drug components
Lessons from Scripture
Is it possible this dreadful afflic-
tion is actually a form of divine
and ever-more frightening epidemic (many of which come from China) punishment? There are certainly
as a means of getting our attention? are increasingly difficult to obtain, instances from the Old Testament
Is it a coincidence that this disease and uncertainty over the availability in which pestilence, or a contagious
seems to have originated in a country of food and other basic necessities and deadly disease, served this
currently engaged in a fierce persecu- has become an ever-present worry for purpose. A terrible pestilence was
tion of the Church? millions of people. one of the ten plagues inflicted on
These and other questions are taking At the same time, throughout much Egypt. As the Lord warned Pharaoh
on increased urgency as the epidemic of the world international travel has through His servant Moses, “If you
spreads and claims ever more victims. been severely restricted, persons refuse to let [My people] go and
It now seems as if the entire world is coming from foreign nations have continue holding them . . . the Lord
affected by it to one degree or another, been placed in quarantine, schools will afflict all your livestock in the
and the threat posed by the corona- have been closed, and public field—your horses, asses, camels,
virus—also known as COVID-19, or gatherings—including religious herds and flocks—with a very severe
as the Wuhan virus (the province in services—are being discouraged or pestilence” (Ex. 9:3). Years later the
China where it apparently began)— forbidden. The disease is not yet Israelites themselves were in danger
has become the most important and anywhere nearly as deadly as other of experiencing this form of divine
compelling news story of 2020. historical epidemics, such as the retribution; complaining about their
Black Death of the 14th century, sinfulness to Moses, God threatened,
The coronavirus (named for the “I will strike them with pestilence and
which wiped out one-third of
crown-like spikes found on its wipe them out” (Nm. 14:12).
Europe’s population, or the Spanish
surface) has appeared in almost
flu of 1918 which ravaged the globe On yet another occasion Moses
every continent and nation, and is
just over a century ago and killed well further warned the people, “If you
severely affecting global finances,
over forty million people (including do not hearken to the voice of the
trade, and consumer confidence.
two of the three Fatima visionaries). Lord, your God, and are not careful
China’s economy has virtually
Nevertheless, some experts believe to observe all His commandments . . .
ground to a halt—and because of
COVID-19 may soon become a the Lord will bring a pestilence upon
the inter-connectedness of the world
pandemic, or a global epidemic, you that will persist until He has exter-
financial system, many other nations
causing an untold number of infec- minated you from the land you are
are suffering as well. Hundreds of
tions and deaths, along with severe entering to occupy” (Dt. 28:15, 21).
billions of dollars in sales and invest-
and previously-unthinkable disrup- Such a tragic event in fact occurred
ments have been lost, factories and
tions to everyday life. centuries later during the reign of

Spring/Summer 2020 • Signs and Wonders for Our Times

King David. When he offended the Lord by conducting Jesus spoke of the importance of avoiding worry and
a census (wanting to know the number of men in his instead trusting in divine providence: “Your heavenly
kingdom fit for military service), the Lord in response Father knows that you need [food, clothing, shelter, and
required him to choose from one of three different other necessities]. But seek first the Kingdom of God, and
possible punishments. A repentant David chose a pesti- His righteousness, and all these things will be given you
lence, which in just three days caused the deaths of seventy besides” (Mt. 6:32-33).
thousand men (1 Chr. 21:14). On yet another occasion
Furthermore, in contrast to a commonly-held assumption
the Lord, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, said to
of His day, Our Lord rejected the idea that all misfor-
the Israelites, “You did not obey Me by proclaiming your
tune is a punishment for sin—as in the case of the man
[enslaved or oppressed] neighbors and kinsmen free.
born blind, whose affliction was not anyone’s fault (Jn.
I now proclaim you free, says the Lord, for the sword,
9:3). However, that does not mean Jesus denied a link
famine, and pestilence. I will make you an object of horror
between personal sin and suffering in every instance.
to all the kingdoms of the earth” (Jer. 34:17).
In stating that the Galileans murdered by Pontius Pilate
The Old Testament often presents Divine Justice as severe were no guiltier than any of their countrymen, or that the
and uncompromising—but in a famous and frequently- eighteen people killed by a falling tower were no more
quoted passage, God reveals His mercy toward His people. worthy of dying than anyone else in Jerusalem, Jesus
Speaking to Solomon after the king had prayed on behalf solemnly stated, “I tell you, if you do not repent, you will
of his subjects, the Lord said: all perish as they did!” (Lk. 13:5). On another occasion,
I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for My Jesus warned a man whom He had healed, “Look, you are
house of sacrifice. If I close Heaven so that there is no rain, if well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen
I command the locust to devour the land, if I send pestilence to you” (Jn. 5:14, emphasis added)—with the clear impli-
among My people, and if My people, upon whom My Name cation being that sinful behavior can lead to unfortunate
has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek personal results.
My presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them When God “punishes” individual sinners, it’s as a form of
from Heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land (2 loving discipline (Heb. 12:5-11). As the Lord announced
Chr. 7:12-14). through the prophet Ezekiel, “As I live, says the Lord
A similar promise on the Lord’s part to forgive and God, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked
protect His people is found in one of the most reassuring man, but rather in the wicked man’s conversion, that
of the psalms: “For He will rescue you from the snare of the he may live” (Ezek. 33:11). With entire countries and
fowler, from the destroying pestilence. . . . You shall not fear societies, however, a very different dynamic is at work.
the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day: not the St. Augustine, in his great theological reflection The City
pestilence that roams in darkness nor the devastating plague at of God, noted that because kingdoms and nations will
noon” (Ps. 91:3,5-6). not exist in eternity, they must be rewarded for their
This theme of God’s loving care for His children is righteousness, or punished for their sins, in this world.
especially emphasized in the New Testament; for instance, There are many historical examples of this; for instance,

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nations have thrived or suffered Thus, it can reasonably be argued have mercy”). Even as an additional
depending on their treatment of that this current crisis is caused, eighty people dropped dead from the
the Jewish people (cf. Is. 41:11), at least in part, by the sinful- plague, Gregory insisted the procession
and throughout much of its history, ness of today’s world. (China, of and prayers continue. A famous icon of
America—because of its generosity course—though especially guilty of Our Lady, traditionally believed to have
and overall respect for religious persecuting God’s people—is far been painted by St. Luke, was brought
freedom—has merited God’s special from the only nation on earth in a to the front of the line, and according to
blessing and protection. state of rebellion against the Lord. legend, as the Holy Image advanced, the
America in particular—because air became cleaner and healthier. Many
Developing this idea, Catholic histo-
of the numerous divine favors persons claimed to hear angels singing
rian Roberto de Mattei notes,
and special blessings it received Regina Coeli (“Queen of Heaven”—
Once men were able to read God’s throughout its history, and its terrible the origin of that hymn in honor of Our
messages in all events occurring beyond sins of abortion and widespread Lady). It’s also said Pope Gregory saw an
their will. . . . [Now, however,] those sexual immorality today—has much angel on top of Hadrian’s Castle along the
who live in practical atheism . . . to answer for.) Tiber River, placing his sword back in its
are unable to understand the action sheath—a sign that the plague was over.
of Providence, which gives a reason Lessons from
for everything that happens, even Church History St. Charles Borromeo
tragedies, such as epidemics or earth-
In 590 Rome was struck by a deadly & The Plague
quakes. The Catholic faith teaches that
plague, with Pope Pelagius II being Almost 1000 years later the northern
if individual men die unrepentant, they
one of its first victims. St. Gregory the Italian city of Milan was also struck
are punished for eternity; but cities
Great was elected to succeed him, by a plague. Like Pope St. Gregory
and peoples, which have no eternal
and the new pope, after immediately the Great before him, Milan’s
destiny, are punished in temporal time
declaring the plague to be an expres- archbishop, St. Charles Borromeo,
for their sins.
sion of divine displeasure, ordered interpreted this affliction as a punish-
These words echo the observation the clergy and residents of the city ment for the community’s sins—so,
over a century ago of Pope Benedict to join him in doing penance for in 1576, he organized penitential proces-
XV, who, during World War I, their sins. Gregory arranged a “seven- sions by the city’s residents (those who
stated that “private misfortunes are form litany”: a procession of the hadn’t fled) on three consecutive days,
deserved punishment, or at least an entire population of Rome, divided with himself barefoot and in the lead.
exercise of virtue for individuals, into seven groups based on age and On the third day, the archbishop carried
while public scourges are atonement sex; the participants walked slowly the city’s prize icon—one of the nails
for the sins committed by public through the city, barefoot and with by which Our Lord had been fastened
authorities and nations that have ashes on their heads. The procession to the Cross—and gave a sermon titled
turned away from God.” moved from church to church, singing “Jerusalem Has Grievously Sinned.”
litanies and the Kyrie eleison (“Lord, Immediately afterwards, he—like St.
Gregory—saw a vision of an angel
sheathing its sword, and announced to
the people that their prayers had been
successful: the plague was over.

Oberammergau,
Germany
Yet another example can be cited of a
successful act of communal penance
in the face of disaster. The town
of Oberammergau lies in southern
Bavaria, near the border with modern-
day Austria. In 1634 a man arrived
there for the celebration of Christmas,
but he unknowingly brought with him
the bubonic plague. He soon died,
but not before infecting many others.
Spring/Summer 2020 • Signs and Wonders for Our Times
 sins have helped cause or bring about
a widespread medical emergency? If so,
what spiritual steps must be taken to
address this situation?

Warnings from Heaven

The theme of divine retribution for
human sinfulness is not limited to
examples from Sacred Scripture and
Church history; many alleged contem-
porary private revelations also make
this connection. Sister Agnes Sasagawa,
who in 1973 received frightening
warnings of future chastisements
from Our Lady of Akita (messages
As the number of plague-related deaths becoming ill themselves, but not later judged authentic by the local
reached crisis proportions, the town’s always—in 1591, for instance, the bishop), stated this past October that
religious and civic leaders turned to God Jesuit novice St. Aloysius Gonzaga, the Mother of God had spoken to her
and made a solemn vow: if delivered from after tending the victims of a plague in again, telling us that we must “put on
the plague, they would perform a Passion Rome, contracted the illness himself ashes and pray a repentant Rosary every
play every ten years in perpetuity. As soon and died at the age of twenty-three. day.” One author links this warning to
as that promise was made, the plague Furthermore, the infamous Black the recent outbreak of the coronavirus
ended; no further villagers died, and those Death of the 14th century severely in China:
who had been infected all recovered. The harmed the Church; many faithful This virus seems different than
first play was performed that very year, priests and religious themselves died previous scares, and originated in
and from then on in every year ending from the fearsome epidemic after early December—right about the
in zero—except for 1920, which was selflessly caring for the victims— time forty days would have passed
delayed until 1922, and 1940, which unlike the corrupt and selfish clergy from Sister Sasagawa’s call to put on
was cancelled because of World who survived because they had fled ashes. . . . China makes sense as the
War II. (Some 2000 villagers partici- for safety. (This tragedy weakened the epicenter, given the state of persecu-
pate in the once-a-decade event, and Church’s spiritual fervor and contrib- tion of Catholics (and all Christians)
over 500,000 people attend one of the uted to some of the abuses which since the Vatican concordat (immedi-
famous Oberammergau Passion Play caused so much turmoil and confu- ately and ruthlessly exploited by
performances over the course of the sion in the 16th century). the [Chinese Communist] Party).
summer.) Large images of Chairman Xi and
Our modern world is far better- Mao [the founder of the Chinese
The Catholic Church has historically been equipped to understand and treat Communist dictatorship] have been
at the forefront of organized efforts to widespread and serious medical forcibly placed in churches, while
respond to plagues, pestilences, and other problems than any other era of icons, statues, and crosses have been
outbreaks of disease. Not only was this a history, and efforts to create vaccines torn down in many cases.
matter of Christian compassion; many and prevent the spread of diseases
times priests and religious had the like the coronavirus are certainly Is China indeed being punished for
best understanding of medicine and urgent and legitimate—but that its persecution of Christians? No one
hygiene (limited as it was). Moreover, doesn’t mean the spiritual aspects of can reasonably deny that this is at least
civic officials often fled to a place such outbreaks can be ignored. Even a possibility. (To the objection that in
of safety when the plague arrived, as individual Christians are called to this instance many innocent people
leaving Church leaders to tend to pray for and perhaps assist victims of are also suffering along with the
the needs of the people (as was the the disease, the Church has the mission guilty, it must be noted that this has
case with St. Charles Borromeo in of facilitating public acts of prayer and often sadly been the case throughout
Milan). Over the centuries numerous penance on the part of its members, salvation history; moreover, one
saints personally cared for the needs while also trying to discern the signs of of the effects of original sin is that
of afflicted and dying persons. Quite the times. Is it now the case—as it so perfect justice is rarely experienced or
often God preserved them from often seemed to be in history—that our achieved in this life.)

Spring/Summer 2020 • Signs and Wonders for Our Times

It’s claimed that a recently-discovered and translated old by the Illuminati Elites at the service of the New World
Chinese prophecy speaks with remarkable accuracy about Order. These foundations at the service of my adversary
the current plague: have been given millions of dollars for the creation of all
The year 2020—the year all of China will weep. The omens kinds of diseases and viruses in laboratories, which are
will be so bad that the New Year will not be celebrated. spreading in the airspace of many nations; these lethal
Then the plague will come. It will come with a fury— viruses have as a purpose to decimate much of the world’s
the tigers and the wolves will hide in the mountains. The population, especially the population of the so-called third-
plague will encompass all the land—and will eventually world countries. My children, very soon viruses, diseases,
spread to the whole world. Very soon, rice will become so and plagues, created in laboratories and scattered in the air,
expensive that no one can eat. Then the rivers will sink will be activated by the climate change that your planet is
all the boats. People in that year will only be able to harvest suffering from. Heat will activate the viruses that are being
rice in the very early spring. There will be no harvest of late spread in the air. The children and the elderly population
season rice, beans, wheat, and oats because vast clouds will be the most affected (message of Feb. 13, 2020).
of locusts will lay waste to the entire countryside. Despite the terrifying nature of these threats, great numbers
[I] assure you Chinese in 2020 that the locusts will fall of people stubbornly cling to their immoral lifestyles; as
from the skies and the destruction will be complete. Enoch was supposed told by Jesus, “Natural disasters, drought,
Smoke and fire will fill the fields—but nothing will viruses and diseases, are about to unleash and this humanity
be able to stop the swarms. Once the locusts have remains numbed by sin” (message of Jan. 23, 2020).
destroyed the land and the smoke is still coming from A visionary known as Victor was told by Our Lady that it will
the ground, the rivers will flood the countryside. [I] will become mandatory for everyone to receive a new vaccine
tell you Chinese in 2020 how to survive. Remain very against the coronavirus. This vaccine may have unpleasant
close to your families and your neighbors. The best is side-effects, but, Mary assured the children of God will be
to have stored up plenty of gold and food to live and spared from experiencing them (message of Feb. 26, 2020).
share freely with those you love. Tolerate no thieves Even so, the righteous may, like everyone else, have their
among the people. Be uniters and not dividers. If you lives disrupted; Jesus allegedly revealed an anonymous
can do all these things, you will survive. visionary that “people may soon be quarantined in their
We are, of course, in no position to pass judgment on homes to stop the spread of the virus. But without sufficient
the authenticity of this supposed prophecy from an food, people could starve in their homes” (message of
anonymous source, but—in the realm of Catholic private Feb. 24, 2020).
revelations—there are many Valentina Papagna, a seer in
more contemporary messages Australia, was recently shown
deserving of consideration. For a multitude of souls dressed in
instance, the late visionary Louise black (representing unrepented
Tomkiel was supposedly told early sin) and suffering in purgatory;
in the 21st century by God the she was told by an angel, “These
Father that “Communism is not are the people that recently died
dead! It lies quietly underground, unprepared. They died from
gaining power, producing toxins, the coronavirus disease” (vision
chemicals and a multitude of germs of Feb. 23, 2020). Several days
for disease control” (message of later, while attending Mass, Our
June 18, 2004—emphasis added). Lord allegedly complained to
her, “With all that is happening
The messenger known as in the world, with the economy
Brother Enoch was alleged collapsing and with the virus
warned by Our Lady, spreading, still I am rejected by the
Little children, epidemics, world. They do not return to Me! I
viruses, and plagues are permit the world to be stripped of
spreading throughout the the wealth they worship so much.
creation; many of these diseases I am patiently waiting so they can
and viruses are being created open their eyes and acknowledge
in laboratories and sponsored Me” (message of Feb. 25, 2020—
emphasis added).

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Even when nations and societies are already done some preparations than expected—perhaps even leading
chastised by God for their sins, the for the chaos and the tumult that to economic collapse, societal disin-
Lord knows and lovingly relates to is to come. For those of you who tegration, and severe restrictions on
each individual sinner on a personal have not, however, now is the time personal and religious freedom—Our
basis, desiring his or her eternal to do so; do not wait! Be prepared Lady assures us that Heaven will not
salvation. For this reason, humanity’s to shelter in place. Make certain abandon those who continue to trust
response to the coronavirus crisis—if it your household has adequate food, in her Son.
is to be successful—must in some way especially. Pray, dear children, and
acknowledge the power and authority of your guardian angels will inspire Concluding Thoughts
the Creator. you as to what else to have on hand. According to the Spirit Daily
There are many sources which website (Feb. 27, 2020), nuns in the
Advice from Our Lady list suggested items to procure. Portuguese town of Coimbra once
The wife, mother, and locutionist However, I know that some of my successfully halted a severe pestilence
known as Elaine was allegedly told children are of more limited means by praying the Stella Coeli (“Star of
by Our Lady, “Be not afraid of the than others. Therefore, I tell you, Heaven”): “This ancient holy prayer
Wuhan virus. Pray today for all make certain to have adequate . . . has preserved many place from
those affected by it. Make whatever amounts of food in your homes. contagion where it is recited daily with
preparations you can, Elaine, but do Children: take my son Padre Pio’s confidence in God and the interces-
not worry; worrying makes you more advice: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” sion of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has
susceptible to illness” (message of As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your arrested this scourge in many places.”
Jan. 29, 2020). Thus, in addition to anxieties on Jesus, because He cares for The words of the prayer are:
the spiritual necessity of trusting in you” (message of Feb. 29, 2020). The Star of Heaven that nourished the
God, we are given a very practical Lord drove away the plague of death
Our Lady also allegedly spoke to
reason for doing so: worry accom- which the first parents of man brought
Elaine of the importance of spiritual
plishes nothing worthwhile, and may into the world. May this bright Star
preparations, should the time come
even prove detrimental to our health. now vouchsafe to extinguish that foul
when it’s necessary to shelter in place;
Heaven is well aware of the plans of she advised: constellation whose battles have slain
evildoers (who are ultimately serving the people with the wound of death.
When the days should come that you
the Evil One) and of the physical needs O most pious Star of the Sea, preserve
cannot assemble for Mass, make certain
of God’s children here on earth, and us from pestilence; hear us, O Lady,
to celebrate some sort of a liturgy in
so it’s no surprise that—in supposedly for thy Son honors thee by denying thee
your homes, particularly on Sundays.
speaking to Elaine—Our Lady offered nothing. Save us, O Jesus, for whom
Read from Scripture. Pray. Keep holy
this information and advice: Thy Virgin Mother supplicates Thee.
the Lord’s day, even if you fall ill.
The coronavirus currently Even if all you can do is pray, pray, V: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
spreading worldwide has been dear children, from the heart. Offer
R: That we may be made worthy of the
created by man and engineered to any sufferings God may send you for
promises of Christ. Let us pray.
be harmful, contagious, and—for the conversion of sinners, especially
many— deadly. It helps decrease within your own families. God will O God of mercy, God of pity, God of
the human population upon the protect and sustain His faithful remnant benign clemency, Thou Who hast had
earth, seen as a plague by Satan and through the chaos and the tumult compassion on the affliction of Thy
his minions. Protect yourselves, that is to come and that, for some, is people, and hast said to the angel
dear children! Make the same already here. Entrust yourselves to me, striking them, “Stop thy hand”; for the
common-sense preparations against little children. I will watch over you love of this glorious Star, whose breasts
this virus as you would against and protect you. I will gather you into Thou didst sweetly drink as antidote for
any other virus. And please—do safety, here, under my mantle, where our crimes, grant the assistance of Thy
not give in to feelings or worry you will be protected from the enemy. grace, that we may be safely freed from
or even panic. Rather, pray, dear Miracles will happen among you, my all pestilence, and from unprovided
children, and leave your worries at faithful little remnant. Pray, pray, pray! death; and mercifully save us from the
the foot of my Son’s Cross. You, O (message of Feb. 27, 2020). gulf of eternal perdition: through Thee,
faithful remnant, are not to worry Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, Who
Even if the coronavirus becomes
or panic— but, rather, you are to livest and reignest, world without end.
much more deadly and disruptive
prepare. Many of my children have Amen.

Spring/Summer 2020 • Signs and Wonders for Our Times

Spiritual Combat alone knows how much destruction well-being of our Church, our country,
the disease will bring. But it is He and the world. One possibility is to join
In addition to prayers by individuals,
Himself Who has permitted it. I the initiative called Pray and Fast for
families, and prayer groups, parishes or
pray to understand what the Lord America (prayandfastforamerica.org); in
dioceses can arrange for Holy Hours,
is asking humanity, the Church, the which you can commit to prayer, fasting,
prayer services (especially focusing on
diocese, and me. Everything that acts of penance, and attendance at Mass
the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet),
happens, even apparently terrible or Eucharistic Adoration on behalf of our
and special Masses of Reparation. (In
things, are signs of His infinite love. religious and political leaders, and for
regard to the latter, under the Masses
To understand, it is necessary to other intentions, as well—such as for an
for Various Occasions in the Roman
pray more, to do penance, and to end to this epidemic.
Missal, #48—“In Any Need”—seems
make sacrifices.
particularly appropriate. Furthermore, As St. Paul assures us, “neither death,
the Collect, or Opening Prayer, for This is a fitting response for all nor life, nor angels, nor principali-
this Mass contains the words “spare Catholics and other Christians ties, nor present things, nor future
Your people, we pray [who are] rightly throughout the world. Acts of things, nor powers, nor height,
chastised now by affliction”—a further penance and sacrifice—especially nor depth, nor any other creature
recognition by the Church that some fasting—can be very powerful, [including manmade plagues or diseases]
misfortunes may indeed be caused by and our faith teaches us that no will be able to separate us from the
our sins.) sincere prayer is ever unheard or love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”
unanswered. Furthermore, the (Rom. 8: 38-39).
South Korea, which has a substan-
Church firmly declares that the Lord
tial Catholic minority, is one of the
is able to bring good out of every REVEREND JOSEPH M. ESPER is a priest
nations most affected by the corona-
situation. Therefore, as long as we’re of the Archdiocese of Detroit and pastor of
virus. Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik Immaculate Conception parish in Anchorville,
striving for a true spirit of humble
of the Diocese of Daejeon offered MI. He received his Master of Divinity
repentance and ongoing trust, and
some timely thoughts about the degree from St. John’s Provincial Seminary
are willing to pray for and help those in Plymouth, MI. Through the years, Father
disease and a proper response to it:
who suffer from the coronavirus or Joe has lectured at Marian conferences,
[This is] a good time to question its effects in whatever way we can, we appeared on EWTN, spoken on Catholic radio,
ourselves about God’s plans for have nothing to fear; God is with us. and written more than a dozen articles. He is
humanity shaken by the corona- also the author of numerous books. Many of
In crucial times such as these, it’s impor- Father’s books are available from Signs and
virus emergency. The Almighty
tant to unite our efforts for the spiritual Wonders for Our Times (www.sign.org)
Lord is good and merciful. He

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