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In Christian and Mediæval Times: Honey

Honey, which in the pagan world everywhere symbolized the pleasures of the senses, in the Christian world became ( symbolical of the temptations of the flesh on the one hand, and of purity on the other.

The bee, in so far as it lived pure and unspotted with clean wings in the midst of honey, was a symbol of the soul which kept itself pure and unspotted from the temptations of the senses. Honey, as symbolical of purity, was used the day on which Christ rose from the dead, when it was mingled with milk in the communion cup.

A drop of honey was also put into the mouth of the child at baptism, the gift of pure bees, symbolizing spiritual purity.

Honey was also eaten on Maundy Thursday, and in some places is still, probably with its old significance of purification, and as a preparation for Easter.

Upon the Jewish New Year Day a piece of apple dipped in honey is eaten previous to the elaborate evening meal, a prayer being offered to the "Creator of the fruit of the earth," the fruit and the honey symbolizing prosperity or "sweet peace."

Bees were to the early Christians, as to the pagans of Greece and Italy, an emblem of eloquence and wisdom, and are fabled to have placed themselves upon the lips of many of the Fathers of the Church when they were in their infancy, so that Saint Ambrose, Saint Isidor, Saint Dominicns, and others were treated by them as of old Plato, Pindar, and other pagan writers were treated.

Because of their eloquence, which was said to be as sweet as honey, a bee-hive was the emblem of Chrysostom, of Ambrose, and of the so-called Doctor Mellifluus, Bernard of Clairvaux.

The Nestorian bishop Shělêmôn, about 1222 A. D., wrote in Syriac the "Book of the Bee," the object and method of which he explains in an address to a brother bishop, -- In Christian and Mediæval Times 321 "We have called this book the Book of the Bee,' because we have gathered of the blossoms of the two testaments and of the flowers of the holy Books, and have placed them therein for thy benefit. As the common bee with gauzy wings flies about, and flutters over and lights upon flowers of various colors, and upon blossoms of divers odors, selecting and gathering from all of them the materials which are useful for the construction of her handiwork; and having first of all collected the materials from the flowers, carries them upon her thighs, and bringing them to her dwelling, lays a foundation for her building with a base of wax; then, gathering in her mouth some of the heavenly dew which is upon the blossoms of spring, brings it and blows it into these cells, and weaves the comb and honey for the use of men and her own nourishment, in like manner have we, etc.," - that which follows being an explanation of the Scriptures and the spiritual life, rendered in a manner not infrequently used by the early writers.

Bees sometimes appear in the legends as companions of the saints. When Saint Modomoc left Ireland they followed him over the sea, as they also did Saint David; and about the head of another saint, who became a monk, they placed themselves in the form of a tonsure.

By her prayers Saint Gabinate was able to transform a hive of bees into armed warriors, who were very efficient in repulsing the enemy, and they are said to have driven away the foe from the monastery of Saint Serenicus.

In few instances have the bees been accused of disloyalty to the Church and her saints, but this sometimes occurred, as when Saint Albericus was placed naked among them. Probably they did not recognize him in that unaccustomed state, and so fell upon and stung him.

A far more pious use was made of their stings in the case of Saint Medard: - "When a thief by night had stolen Saint Medard's bees, the bees in their master's quarrel, leaving their hive, set upon the malefactor; and eagerly pursuing him which way soever he ran, would not cease stinging of him, until they had made him (whether he would or not) to go back again to their master's house; and there falling prostrate at his feet, submissively to cry him mercy for the crime committed. Which being done, so soon as the saint extended unto him the hand of benediction, the bees, like obedient servants, did forthwith stay from persecuting him, and yielded themselves to the ancient possession and custody of their master."

In a book of songs used by the Moravians the wound in the side of the Saviour is compared to a rose ; and he who derives love and devotion from contemplating the wounds of the self-sacrificing Christ is compared to the bee which sucks the honey from the rose. "Ye green branch, ye noble scion, Ye honey rich flower, Ye open paradise, Grant my prayer.

Let my soul be a little bee Upon the rose of thy wound!

Ah, ah, how sweet is this dew, How lovely to my soul!

How good to be upon such a meadow, In such a flower cup !

Let me ever be a little bee Upon the rose of thy wound."