News and Events Bee trivia: Did you know many churches still require 100% beeswax candles and the Catholic Church requires candles used for mass be at least 51% beeswax? (Excerpt below from Catholic Magazine, 1991)Light, as the New Catholic Encyclopedia notes, signifies “joy, optimism, goodness, purity, beauty, festiveness, dignity and life. It is opposed to darkness, which signifies sadness, gloom, desolation, death, ignorance, error, and evil in general.” We find that by Jerome’s time, “In all the churches of the East lights are lit when the Gospel is to be read, even though the sun is rising, but the purpose is not to dispel the darkness but to give a visible sign of joy.” When the meaning of the beeswax candle was pondered, particularly in the Middle Ages, a rich and detailed symbolism emerged. Christ had declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5), and the candle’s light came to be the symbol for his presence. The pale wax of the candle symbolizes Christ’s flesh, his sacred humanity. The wick, embedded in the center of the candle, represents his soul. The flame, as it burns down the wick, consumes the wax to give us light. It burns, expending itself, sacrificing itself, just as Christ sacrificed himself. The burning candle is aesthetically pleasing, and it gives a sweet aroma as it burns, another reminder of the presence of our Lord. The wax produced by the honeybee is considered the sweetest and purist, the most appropriate for symbolizing the humanity of Christ. It is produced by the bees actually consuming honey. Honey itself is a symbol for the superlative in sweetness, the sweetness of the Word of God.
If you are interested in beekeeping classes in the spring shoot us an email and we will provide details.
Sun Mountain Apiary 127 Marcus Road Delanson, NY 12053