Catholic Singles

LADYBUGS
BY: MARK ANTHONY ROSOLOWSKI

The first question that has to be asked is where did the name Ladybug come from? To find this out we need to go back to Europe, and to the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages were a time of castles, lords and serfs. It is common knowledge that the lord owned the castle and the land that was surrounding the castle, and the people who worked the land were the serfs and the serfs were owned by the lord. The serfs were responsible to grow all of the vegetables, fruits and grains.

During those years there was an infestation of various insects that were destroying all of the crops. These insects were making their ways through the serf's fields and the orchards leaving nothing in their wake. The serfs became very fearful of starving and being unable to provide for their lord and their families. These serfs told their lords of the devastating insects and their fears and concerns.

The lords and the serfs prayed to the Virgin Mary for Her intervention. In answer to these prayers a swarm or red and black beetles appeared and these beetles ate upon the invading insects. These beetles ate all of the insects and they saved the crops. Upon seeing this, the Lords and the serfs called the beetles "The Beetles of Our Lady", in honor of "Our Lady" or the Virgin Mary. The name was eventually shortened to "Lady Beetles" and eventually became known as "Ladybugs."