21. St. Francis of Assissi

Birds and Beasts, And the mute fish that glances in the stream And harmless reptile coiling in the sun, And gorgeous insect hovering in the air, The fowl domestic and the household dog- In his capacious mind, he loved them all: Their rights acknowledging he felt for all.                                        -- Wordsworth St. Francis (1181-1226 CE) lived about seven hundred years ago in the town of Assisi in Italy. While he was still young, he left his home, riches and gay companions and began to find his friends among the dumb animals. He called the animals, his brothers and sisters.     Early in life, he started going from place to place preaching to people the gospel of God's abounding love for His dumb creatures. Every animal that the Saint saw became his friend. Birds flocked to him without fear. They would pick their food from his hands. They would sit on his shoulders. Animals would go to him when he called them. Wild beasts, when they saw him, became gentle as lambs and approached him meekly They trusted him as their friend.     Once in his wanderings, the people of a village complained to him that there was a big wolf in the neighbourhood which daily killed and carried away many of their cattle and sheep. St. Francis smiled at their anger. He went to the forest where the terrible wolf was said to be living. He called aloud and asked the wolf to come out. Strange to say, the wolf quietly came to him. The villagers who saw the wonder could not believe their eyes.     St. Francis asked the wolf not to kill any more cattle or sheep. He also asked the people to place some food for brother-wolf everyday, for St. Francis explained to them that the wolf killed animals only for the sake of food. After that the villagers never lost any more sheep or cattle.     Once as he was on his way to Bovegna, he heard the sweet songs of a multitude of birds. To him they sounded like a divine orchestra. So he stopped under the trees where the birds sang and spoke to them thus:     'Little sisters, what music can equal the melody of your voices! But how much charm and rapture will you not give if you sing the praise of God! So, dear sisters, in your sweet songs, sing the praise of the Lord. For, of all His creatures, He has been most kind to you. He has given the pure and cool sky for you  to enjoy and roam about freely. He has given you shady trees to live and rest in. You have fruits and flowers in plenty. Sing, ye tiny friends, the praise of the Lord. Sing His glory !'     One day he met a young man who had caught some doves which he was offering for sale at a town fair. St. Francis saw the poor doves like prisoners in the hands of the young man. He went up to him and begged him to give him the poor doves. So humble was the voice of St. Francis that the young follow at once handed over the doves to the holy man. St. Francis set them free.     It was St. Francis who went to the duke of his town and begged him to make arrangements for the feasting of birds and beasts by setting apart a day every year as a day for their rejoicing.     There are a number of similar incidents in his life which show his great concern for the welfare of birds and beasts.     In his last days, he retired to a lonely mountain where he built himself a hut and lived. Here his companions were the birds and beasts which he loved and which also loved him.     Thus did the holy Saint live and rejoice in the happiness of birds and beasts. ****  **** Additional Information of Interest Click here to find out more about the great St. Francis of Assissi.   Click here to know more stories about how St. Francis came to be known as the "Patron of Animals". Click here to know more about the town of Assissi in Italy.