World Bee Day 2024

Image ICN/JS

May 20th marks World Bee Day, a day to celebrate the vital role bees play in our ecosystem. World Bee Day aims to promote actions that protect bees and their habitats, as well as to acknowledge the vital role of beekeepers and other stakeholders in ensuring their conservation. It's a great opportunity to learn about the importance of bees, their challenges, and what we can do to support them.

On this day, let's also remember the writings of John Bradburne and his connection with bees. There are several hundred lines in John's writings devoted to bee's. Bees are for John occasions for deep theological reflections. John's observations on bees are ordered to the highest level, the contemplation of God and of the Queen of bees. By his spiritual friendship with bees, John shows us the way of a true Christian ecology, and of the only real environmentalist revolution, is the one of universal Love.

"It seems my mission is to bees only, to tell them that we men want to forget their stings and our own fear and avarice and to be friends with bees and the rest of creation." JRB 1969

Bees regularly visited John in swarms wherever he stayed. He welcomed them into his home, and he valued their presence, as it kept visitors away, so he could get on with his writing and meditation.

Today the bee came in
With a humming merry din
And settled in their swarm amidst my hive;
Til meridian they waited
And then they celebrated
The fact that in this cell is man alive:
Alive to solitude,
Dead to the world - intrude
Let none who with my sunny solitude would strive.

Bees have become synonymous with John Bradburne. So the next time you think to pray to John and ask for his intercession, don't be surprised if some bees start buzzing around!

Happy World Bee Day.

LINK

John Bradburne Memorial Society: www.johnbradburne.com