A long time ago, Modomnoc left Ireland for Wales to finish his studies to be a priest. At the monastery he was assigned the task of tending and caring for the bees and hives that pollinated the gardens and provided honey and mead for the monks. Under his gentle care the bees thrived and became very loyal to their keeper, buzzing around him as he worked. After several years when it was time for Modomnoc to return to Ireland, the bees followed him onto the ship despite his protests that they should stay and provide for the other monks. But the bees would not budge and seeing their great devotion, the abbot gave his blessing to Modomnoc to keep the bees. And so, Modomnoc made the bees a home in Ireland and apiculture was introduced to the land.A nice longer version of this story is available here.
I must give big ups to my former professor Peter Harle for turning me onto to this little-talked-about feast day which always falls the day before St. Valentines. It's perfect for avoiding the schmultzy Valentines hullaballoo, and anyway Modomnoc's story is ten times lovelier and sweeter (HA!) than Valentine's anyway. While I'm not aware of any traditional celebrations surrounding this feast day in any Catholic culture, I think its the perfect opportunity for creative bee and honey related gift-giving and revelry. Give gifts of local honey, beeswax products and mead. Have a beeswax candlemaking party or dine on honey-sweetened cakes and candies. With spring coming, its a good time to remember these friendly pollinators and all the work they do for us.Lots and lots of folks throughout history have adopted honey and the bee as a symbol of many things, from the Middle East to the Mormons. This is actually a fairly good round-up of cultural info. I am really going a little crazy about bee symbolism as I continue to google for pictures and info.
So, if you're feeling a little Valentines'd out but still interested in participating in some light Catholic veneration, Happy Saint Modomnoc's!!!
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