And guess who we're writing about? St. Francis of Assisi who loved all living creatures including the birds and beasts of the air, land and sea.
If you recall last month Mom wrote about St. Therese of The Child Jesus sending her shower of roses from heaven to help people. St. Therese also loved animals, too. In fact, she had a Springer Spaniel named Tom, and not only that, before she entered the Carmel her father gave her a lamb! Yes, a beautiful little baby lamb because he thought she should have one.
Well, back to St. Francis. I don't know if he ever had a little lamb of his own, or a little dog like me, but I do know he liked birds and they liked him back. They used to gather and listen to him preach, as did bunnies, squirrels, frogs and even the wise old owls staring at St. Francis from their perches in the trees. Sometimes they can look scary with the way they stare and hoot and all, but they are just trying to find out things, and at other times they warn the creatures in the forest about predators and such. They sway on tree branches in the gentle wind taking in the wisdom of St. Francis for timely passing on when a creature in the forest, or even folks passing by, have a problem or are lost not knowing which way to go. St. Francis knew that people can learn things from the creatures who inhabit the earth, and included man and beast in the praising of God.
St. Francis was aware that respecting animals was a way to respect the environment. After all, it is the animals and plants who participate in ecology, which makes the earth a healthy place for humans to live. But at that time St. Francis had never heard of "ecology." His way of wisdom was Divine inspired by his love for God. And it was out of this love that he learned to treat all of God's little and big creatures the very same, yet according to their roles in God's universe.
For instance, St. Francis had compassion for the animals and wanted to see them happy in their environment. He had the same compassion for very fierce creatures as well, restoring them spirtually in their rightful habitats and homes. He also enlisted the aid of these creatures to convert heretics. How did he do these things?
