Natural historians tell us that the smaller bees are the better workers. They have subtle wings, and their colour is black, and as it were sunburnt ; but the handsomer bees are of the number of those who do nothing. The small bees are penitents, who are little in their own eyes, and are always employed about some work, lest the devil should come and find their house empty and idle. 

They also have subtle wings, which are contempt of the world, and love of the heavenly kingdom ; by which, elevating themselves from this earth, they more subtilly contemplate the glory of God. They are also of a dark colour; whence, in the first of Canticles, the penitent soul saith, "I am black, but comely." ....  

Penitents ought to do as the bees, who, when their king flies from the hive, fly with him, and crowd closely round him,—he in the middle, and they on every side; and when the king can fly no longer, the company of bees carries him; and if he dies, they all die together with him. 

St Antony of Padua [12th-13th century CE] (Sermons)

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