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Animal Rights History Timeline » [c485-1450] Medieval Ages » Saint Bernardine of Siena

Bernardine of Siena

Sermons: How We Should Love Our Neighbor

[ca 15th c.] Saint Bernardine of Siena, "How We Should Love Our Neighbor," in Sermons, edited by Don Orlandi, trans. by Helen Robins (1920;Online at Archive.org).

Thou shouldst take example from the beasts, from the birds; if thou hast not intelligence of thyself to learn. O boys, boys, when you take captive little swallows, what then do the mother birds? All the mother swallows unite together, and do in every way endeavour to aid the little pretty birds. Not so doth man: not alone doth he not endeavour to aid his brother, but he hath not even compassion on him. Worse than the birds is man ! Oh, in what confusion will the cruel man find himself, who hath not compassion on him who is his fellow ! For thou seest that the beast is more merciful than thou art. So mayest thou see of the swine which are merciful one towards another, that when one doth squeal all the others run to aid him, if it be possible. (67-68)