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Animal Rights History Timeline » [c485-1450] Medieval Ages » Francis Assisi

Life of Saint Francis

Julian of Speyer

VIII. How He Preached to the Birds, How Dumb Animals Were Obedient to Him and Fled to Him Confidently and the Water that was Changed to Wine for Him.

[1232-1235] Julian of Speyer, "How He Preached to the Birds, How Dumb Animals Were Obedient to Him and Fled to Him Confidently and the Water that was Changed to Wine for Him," in The Life of Saint Francis, reprinted in Francis of Assisi, Early Documents: The Saint (New York, New City Press: 1999; Google Books: Online Library of Free eBooks: Online Preview).

Blessed Francis was a man completely filled with a dovelike simplicity. Once, when he was going through the Spoleto valley, it happened that near a town named Bevagna, he saw a huge multitude of various kinds of birds all flocked together. He had a great fondness for all creatures because of his special love of the Creator. Leaving his companions on the road, he quickly ran to the spot where the birds had gathered, and, as was his custom, greeted them as though they had human reason. Observing, moreover, that they did not leave the place on his account, he marveled and drew near to them, but event them, when he got there, none of them withdrew, which filled him with great joy. With great care, the man of God urged them to pay attention to the Word of God. Among many other things, he set forth for them in simple fashion things like these: "My brother birds, you who are noble among all creatures are especially bound to love and praise your Creator who clothes you in feathers, lifts you up from the earth by your wings, and provides purer mansions for you in the air. Thought you nether sow, reap, nor gather into barns, he nourished you without any trouble to you, and abundantly provides you with everything that's good for you." The little birds themselves opened their beaks, and stretched out their wings and necks, wonderfully exulting after their own fashion and gazing upon the holy man of God who propounded such things to them, seemed to be paying careful attention to his words. Saint Francis, passing through their midst and returning, touched them at will with his tunic, but they did not move from the spot, until he gave them leave by blessing them with the sign of the cross, and himself departed.

Then he began to accuse himself of great negligence before the brothers because he had previously neglected to preach to the birds. From that time on, then, the man of God, on whose lips there was always praise, especially praise of the Savior, while himself praising God, not only advised people to praise him, but also earnestly invited birds, beasts and all other creatures to do the same, calling them by the names "brothers" or "sisters," to the praise of the Maker of all.

To refer to a few of many such incidents…

To the chattering swallows he spoke as follows: "My sister swallows, not it is time for me to speak my piece, because up to now you have spoken loud enough indeed; from now on, until the word of the Lord is finished stop your talking altogether!" They, as though they had reason, immediately quieted down, and did not leave the place until the preaching had been completed.

Again and again, the beasts of the forest also ran to Blessed Francis as to the safest port, as though, led by reason, they knew his kind feelings towards them.

Once while he was staying at the town of Greccio, he saw a rabbit caught alive in a snare brought by a brother. Moved by great pity at this sigh, that most gentle man said to the hare, "Brother rabbit, come to me! Why did you allow yourself to be deceived like this?" When he was released by the bother, the rabbit, as if confident, immediately ran to the man of God and rested in this lap just like a tame animal. As often as it was placed on the ground by the blessed man so it could run away, it returned to him, not seeking any other freedom, until at last Francis commanded that it be carried to a nearby woods by the brothers. While he once stayed on an island in the Lake of Perugia, Francis did something similar to a little wild rabbit.

Similarly, once while he was sitting in a boat on the Lake of Rieti, a large fish, commonly called a tinca, was given to him while it was still alive. The holy man received it joyfully and kindly, not to eat it, but to set it free. He called it "Brother Fish," and while praying and blessing the name of the Lord, he put it back into the water. while he was persisting in his prayer and praise, the fish played in the water and did not leave until Blessed Francis, after finishing his prayer, gave it permission. (Saint, 396-8)