My Valentine

Like Valentine, patron saint of beekeeping, Christians have a duty to love and learn from the earth God made. Courtney Ellis| February 13, 2023.

This biblical imperative reminds us of the interconnectedness of the created world and the loving Creator who spun it all into being. The practice of apiculture is unique, requiring slow, careful movements, attention to detail, and a working knowledge of apiology, or the study of bees. When a major life event such as a birth, marriage, or death occurred, the beekeeper would make sure to inform the bees. “[What] if the church could learn to work together like this?” Eighteenth- and 19th-century English folklore taught that bees belonged to the families of their keepers not simply as possessions, pets, or farm animals but as valued members of the family. And as Ferris put it, “If we don’t have bees, we don’t have food.” “[In winter] they stay in this cluster and beat their little wings to stay warm,” she said. “It’s my responsibility to take care of [the bees] well.” My evangelical upbringing taught me a thorough knowledge of the Bible, but it was weak on Christian history and tradition. There’s one for angina sufferers (Swithbert), flight attendants (Bona of Pisa), and embroiderers (Clare). There is a patron saint for those who survive an earthquake (Gregory the Wonderworker) and one for those who’ve misplaced items (Anthony). Ignace de Loyola, a Jesuit school in Bedou, Haiti, [includes beekeeping](https://www.jesuits.org/stories/how-beehives-are-transforming-education-and-the-economy-in-rural-haiti/) as part of its educational curriculum.