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a painting as a place for reflection and absorbtion
Saint Ambrose and The Killer Bees
KILLER BEES“Killer Bees” or more politically correct, Africanized Honey Bees, entered California a year or two ago after a decade-or-so migrating north from their point of introduction to the Western Hemisphere by a scientist in Brazil who thought the African bee could strengthen the honey-producing capabilities of the European honey bee, which was imported from Europe in the 1620’s. The Africanized strain has not been significantly diluted, as one might hope, by interbreeding with the European honey bee because the Africanized Bee tends to kill the European queen, enslave the workers to care for the Africanized queen and her off-spring, and the European strain tends to die off. The first known deaths in California due to killer bees, were a dog and a rabbit. When attacked, the best course is to run away in a straight line, or “bee line”.
Saint Ambrose and the Killer Bees
Saint Ambrose- December 7
PATRON OF BEEKEEPERS, GEESE AND ORATORS
A swarm of bees settled in Ambrose’s mouth when he was in his cradle, foreshadowing his oratorical gifts. Ambrose was a lawyer in Milan who had not yet been baptized when, inspired by the miraculous shouts of a child in the crowd, the people of the city made him their bishop in the year 270. He insisted that the Church take precedence over the State, declaring, “An Emperor is within the Church; he is not above it,” and strongly rebuked the Emperor Theodosius for being insufficiently anti-Semitic in judging a case of synagogue-burning. His many “bewitching” sermons are filled with theologically dubious Neoplatonism, yet he preached mightily and successfully against Arian heresy. Having been raised by his mother and his aunt (a nun), Ambrose was a fierce advocate of celibacy—he is frequently depicted wielding the scourge with which he had his rival Jovial flogged for daring to suggest that marriage was no less pleasing to God than virginity.
Saint Ambrose- December 7
PATRON OF BEEKEEPERS, GEESE AND ORATORS
A swarm of bees settled in Ambrose’s mouth when he was in his cradle, foreshadowing his oratorical gifts. Ambrose was a lawyer in Milan who had not yet been baptized when, inspired by the miraculous shouts of a child in the crowd, the people of the city made him their bishop in the year 270. He insisted that the Church take precedence over the State, declaring, “An Emperor is within the Church; he is not above it,” and strongly rebuked the Emperor Theodosius for being insufficiently anti-Semitic in judging a case of synagogue-burning. His many “bewitching” sermons are filled with theologically dubious Neoplatonism, yet he preached mightily and successfully against Arian heresy. Having been raised by his mother and his aunt (a nun), Ambrose was a fierce advocate of celibacy—he is frequently depicted wielding the scourge with which he had his rival Jovial flogged for daring to suggest that marriage was no less pleasing to God than virginity.
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