"I am no expert, just a practicing Catholic, and devotee of the Blessed Mother, but it occurred to me quite some time ago that since the serpent first destroyed the 'paradisaical life' of the 'first Eve' by appealing to her pride, it is only fitting that the serpent's pride should be crushed in a 'humiliating fashion' by the 'New Eve,'" said another viewer. "If you were to consider the serpent as being an opportunistic 'misogynist,' you can see the perfect rectitude in that."

At the same time as this discussion, there has been concern that certain pilgrim rosaries from Europe have a serpent -- a snake -- near the Head of Jesus on the Crucifix. Under the heel is one thing, but at the top of the Cross?

We were sent a photo of one that seemed clearly to show a serpent's head near that of Jesus, but in other cases there may be a mix-up between that representation and a tradition in Europe of exposing some of the thread that binds the beads and goes through the cross. In that case, it seems to us to be just that: thread, at least in the pair we were sent. But the point: let's leave rosary beads simple.

Meantime. what about a YouTube video clip we linked to that simulated an apparition of the Virgin Mary (supposedly in Los Angeles)?

This created as stir -- and misunderstandings. Although well-acted out -- such that one can be forgiven for initially thinking it might be another apparition report -- the clip had a statement by fictional archbishop, which certainly gave it away. But it was so realistic that many wondered: if not the real thing, is this a mockery? A disclaimer would have helped.

"I'm the film-maker who wrote and directed the new feature film, 'Virgin Mary Appears in Los Angeles,'" J. D. Mata e-mailed us. "It was not my intention to mislead anyone into believing these apparitions were actually happening! This film is a beautiful narrative about conversion, prayer, peace, fasting, and penance. Please feel free to contact me for more information pertaining to the release of this film!"

On to the mystical, and specifically the prophetic, which seems increasingly relevant: In the signs of the times department are many things to observe, as these things seem to be multiplying around us. Heat waves. Swings in weather. New records. Many who never considered such things are now speaking about the unusual trends, which we believe have been in a special upswing at least since 1990.

One of the more esoteric of potential signs has been disappearance of honeybees, which has been reported from North America to Europe. They call it Colony Collapse Disorder, and no one is certain of the cause. It may be from invasive mites, from pesticides, from the climate flux, from poor use of hives, or even, some speculate, the flood of microwaves we had radiated through the air (perhaps disorienting the bees). Whatever the case, they are only the poster child for many other animals that are suddenly in decline. Might there be a message in that?

Some have pointed out that St. Rita was connected to a miraculous account of honeybees.

"In the parish church of Laarne, near Ghent, there is a statue of Saint Rita in which several bees feature," notes one reference. "This seems to arise from the story that, on the day after her baptism, a swarm of white bees was seen around the baby as she was asleep in her crib. They peacefully went in and out of her mouth, not injuring her in any way. Her family seems to have been mystified rather than alarmed. Later, and in retrospect, the bees were seen as representing her subsequent beatification by Pope Urban VIII."

Noted a site dedicated to her: "We have already seen that a swarm of white bees appeared and hovered around the cradle of the saint, but the bees of which we now speak are those which first appeared when the saint entered the convent, where they now live in a retired place in the convent wall. They leave the convent every Holy Week and remain abroad until the feast of St. Rita.

"Oftentimes during the year, they fly through the convent and in the garden, but it is very noticeable that they first fly to the room of the prioress, as if to ask permission to take their recreation. Another noticeable fact about them is this: they are the constant companions of the nuns while they are kneading the dough to make the little breads of St. Rita, and it would seem as if the little winged creatures were urging on the work of the nuns by the continual humming and buzzing."

We can't confirm that, but to take the issue and the potential mystical implications of these largely ignored animals a step further: we heard from a maker of Catholic candles or "tapers"  that beeswax has been noted by officials as the only wax that is toxin free "and actually releases negative ions as it burns, purifying the atmosphere in which it burns. 

"The proximity of children to the cloud of smoke when blowing out the candles on the cake means we are exposing them to all of the toxins in that cloud. The beeswax tapers are dripless and virtually smoke and soot free, economical in that they burn for thirty minutes and can be used over and over again." Is God telling us something?

[resources Tower of Light]