A man surrounded by bees near their hive / c. 1175-1200
Working the fields, chopping trees, weaving textiles, and gardening were all in a day's work for a monk or a nun—some even kept bees, as seen in this illustration. These tasks were a form of prayer; hard work was a way to commune with God. But keeping the monks and nuns busy wasn't just to teach them humility or self-sufficiency; it was also a way to keep them out of trouble.