Faith Within Reason

Since God in His infinite mercy and wisdom has seen fit to send among us His servant the coronavirus, and since He has presumably known the nature, progress and consequences of the disease since at least the beginning of time, it is natural that the pious should be shouting at Him to think again. By way of a spiritual push, a group of Orthodox believers has attempted a holy procession of automobiles through the city of Lipetsk in Russia; but unfortunately the local authorities refused permission for the parade to go ahead. It appears they were motivated by the same profane and materialistic public health considerations as the Orthodox church's other ideological enemies at Lourdes; and despite the lives and suffering at stake the Holy Royal Martyrs, who presumably worship not only the Deity but also the equally efficient and compassionate régime of the tsars, obeyed the secular arm of Lipetsk with surpassing meekness.