Beekeeper and epilepsy

One for the ages. One that stands the test of time.

”Age is an issue of mind over matter.”

(Mark Twain) While aging is mandatory, growth is optional.

Age has many meanings and connotations in its use and usury of life’s descriptive ways, means and lessons.

Like a fine wine.🍷 Aged to perfection.

”The years teach much, which the days never knew.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

”With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone.” Oscar Wilde.

A lot has been written about the wrinkles of and crinkles of the joints in old age. I guess the best we can do is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about our age.(gl)😏

Tomorrow, about 100 nations will celebrate a full day dedicated to expressions of agape. Persons, people and relationships that age with grace and gracefully age. Gestures of affection vary in as much as each individual person wishes. Flowers to exchange, cards to remind, feelings shared to feel whole. For the lucky who grow old gracefully a lot is learned along the way.

Old age? Consider this: The High Middle Ages, or Medieval Period was the period of European history between c. 1000 and c. 1300. (A long time ago) It was preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended in c 1500 according to historiography study. (wk). During this time period there was an influencer. Some called him a martyr. Others prayed to this saint for healing.

Saint Valentine.

According to early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. History maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman empires. An 18th century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer’s daughter a letter signed, “Your Valentine.”

As a farewell note before his execution.

Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines’ honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. Valentines evolved over time and place. February 14 is celebrated as Saint Valentine’s Day in various Christian denominations. In Eastern Orthodox Church, Saint Valentine is recognized on July 6. Many other cultures present their Valentine hopes, dreams and wishes of stories within the confines of their societies and cultures.

Interestingly, Saint Valentine is the patron saint of beekeepers, the plague, epilepsy and fainting. Beekeeping is more than just a practical activity—it is steeped in spiritual, historical, and cultural significance. Across centuries and civilizations, bees and their keepers have symbolized resilience, harmony, and the interconnect of life.

Protection.

In addition, God’s blessings, strength, wisdom, things of great worth and even reference to Christ. The soul. Saint Valentine’s association with beekeeping adds a layer of caring for nature to his legacy, celebrating both human affection and the “sweetness of life.” (gl)

Saint Valentine’s association with persons required many intuitive skills of helpful healthcare. He was also known as the patron saint of epilepsy. Historically called the “fainting sickness.” due to his legendary healing. Valentine practiced curing the ailment of falling because and within the phonetic similarities between his name and the German word for “falling.” Epilepsy was historically termed the “falling sickness” because seizures often cause loss of consciousness and falls.

Phonetically, in German-speaking regions, the name Valentine sounded similar to the German word for “fallen”, linking the saint to the condition. While widely known today for romance, his role as patron of health was prominent in medieval, particularly German and Italian traditions. (gl)

I wonder what modern-day spell check would think of this phonetic phenomenon.

So simple.

The reason Sant Valentine became a prominent healer was because of his name sounding like another word. One might consider Saint Valentine’s association with his healing nature one of great, great selfless humanity. The spiritual meaning of epilepsy is considered, by many, to be a possession. The condition is often viewed as punishment for wrongdoings of the family.

Temporary blindness, spiritual affliction, the Church often viewed epileptic episodes as a casting out of the “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) While the Bible examines the interpretation of epilepsy through a spiritual lens and the possibility of demonic possession, modern science identifies them as potential neurological events. Paul and Ezekiel were studied for possible affliction of epilepsy and its connections.

Epilepsy has a much longer history than Christianity and has been recognized for at least 4,000 years (ea) It was invariably connected to the gods in the ancient cultures that pre-dated Christianity. In ancient times, there were no actual causes or symptoms of epilepsy. It was seen as a supernatural event as the gods had the power to inflict epilepsy on people as a punishment or a challenge as well as the power to release people from it.(eag)

Christiantiy maintained its position and tradition of linking epilepsy to God. In early Christian times, when medicine was rudimentary, and in the absence of any other effective treatments, the possibility of divine intervention at least brought comfort, if not a cure. An example of a person afflicted with falling and temporary blindness was Saint Paul, or Saul. He speaks of his physical ailments in (2Corinthians 12:7) and in (Galatians 4:13-14). In some parts of the world epilepsy became known as Saint Paul’s disease. (bib)

Even with God’s power, few Middle Age Christians would dare approach God directly. Instead, as in the case of Saint Valentine, they, Christians would turn to Saints of the church to intercede on their behalf and ask God for His help. The more serious and dangerous the illness or disease, the greater number of patron saints that were responsible for it. Over time, epilepsy gained the attention of about forty saintly helpers, number exceeded by the plague, which had more than sixty. (ea)

Of the forty saints for epilepsy, the best known by far is Saint Valentine. Others included St. Anthony the Abbot, St.Apollinaris, and St. Giles. St. Bibiana is a patron saint because while a church was built over her grave in the garden an herb grew that cured headache and epilepsy.

However one approaches remedy, with either prayer, rest or worry, the beekeeper is prepared to protect as the Bible re-shares the story of Saint Paul. Tomorrow marks a day of recognition of our own humanity and reliance on one another for healing and good. Selfless acts of kindness and rest. It is only up to Him to when He will call us home. He decides when and whether it is our turn for eternal rest based on what goes on down here on Planet Earth.

Until then, and in the meantime, each and every individual has power in the palms of their own hands to join them together. To pray. To stop the hurt, to heal the pain.

🙏🏻

Happy Valentine’s Day.