In a beehive, tasks are undertaken by all, food and natural resources are held in common, and the survival of the colony supersedes any individual’s particular interest. In the short six weeks of her life, a worker bee never sleeps, tirelessly working around the clock. Observing such a selfless lifestyle prompted St. John Chrysostom in the fourth century to write, “The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others.”
Yet, our beloved bee is in peril, but its work remains critical for the balance of our world. In the light of Pope Francis’ challenging encyclical on the environment, what should we know about American agriculture, the stewardship of creation, and the preservation of the bee?
