Saint Francis of Assisi: Friend of Animals and People

In all of history, St. Francis of Assisi, Italy, may be one of the few people who most imitated and carried out the work of Christ in Christ’s way.

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone was born to a wealthy family in 1182. When he became a man, he committed himself to God, left his inherited wealth behind, and chose to live a simple life of extreme poverty. In a time when animals were being downgraded by philosophers and the Church to nothing more than soulless automatons not worthy of the simplest kindnesses, Francis of Assisi gained a reputation of being a friend to animals, He spoke with them, cared for them, advocated on their behalf, and even held Mass for them.

Francis revered the Eucharist and preached to people and animals, fish, and birds. He taught that the world, created good and beautiful by God, needed redemption because of man’s inherent sin. As both steward and creature of the earth, man has the duty to protect and enjoy nature. All creatures had the universal ability and duty to praise God.

In the “Canticle of the Sun”, Francis praised God and thanked Him for the creation of “Brother Fire” and “Sister Water”. He had heart-felt compassion for people and the animals he referred to as brothers and sisters of mankind.

Franciscan monk, Father Eric Doyle wrote:

Though physically blind, he [Francis]was able to see more clearly than ever with the inner eye of his mind. With unparalleled clarity he perceived the basic unity of all creation and his own place as a friar in the midst of God’s creatures. His unqualified love of all creatures, great and small, had grown into unity in his own heart. He was so open to reality that it found a place to be at home in his heart and he was at home everywhere and anywhere. He was a centre of communion with all creatures”.

Speaking of Saint Francis, Pope Francis said:

Just as happens when we fall in love with someone, whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise. He communed with all creation, even preaching to the flowers, inviting them “to praise the Lord, just as if they were endowed with reason”. His response to the world around him was so much more than intellectual appreciation or economic calculus, for to him each and every creature was a sister united to him by bonds of affection. That is why he felt called to care for all that exists.

Taming the Fierce Wolf of Gubbio and Wild Doves

One famous story told in Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi, is “Of the Most Holy Miracle of St. Francis in Taming the Fierce Wolf of Gubbio.” The wolf was so fierce that it devoured animals and humans daring to go outside the city walls. Out of compassion for the people, Francis went to speak with the wolf about his behavior. As the wolf approached with open jaws, “the saint, making the sign of the cross, cried out: “Come hither, brother wolf; I command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else.” At that, the wolf closed his jaws, stopped running and meekly lay at the saint’s feet. Francis rebuked the wolf and promised that the people would forgive him, feed him daily, and live in peace with him. The wolf and the people agreed to this pact and lived happily together until the wolf’s death two years later. Read the entire story here.

In Chapter XXII of the book, the story of “How St. Francis Tamed the Wild Doves”, says: “A certain young man having caught one day a great number of doves, as he was to sell them he met St Francis, who always felt a great compassion for such gentle animals; and, looking at the doves with eyes of pity, he said to the young man: “O good man, I entreat thee to give me those harmless birds, emblems in Scripture of humble, pure, and faithful souls, so that they may not fall into cruel hands, which would put them to death.” The young man gave Francis the doves and went on to become a friar. Read the story here. 

Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it. ~Francis of Assissi

For World Peace Day, January 1, 1990, Pope Francis wrote:

[the saint of Assisi] “offers Christians an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation. . .The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples. . . It is my hope that the inspiration of Saint Francis will help us to keep ever alive a sense of ‘fraternity’ with all those good and beautiful things which Almighty God has created.”

Church history records many stories of saints caring for animals. For example, Saint Anthony preached to the fishes and Saint Brigid was an animal lover who gave sanctuary to a wild boar. Read more stories here.

References

• Doyle, Eric (1996). St. Francis and the Song of Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Franciscan Institute. ISBN 978-1576590034.
• Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi -http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ugolino/flowers.iii.xxi.html
• Francis of Assisi – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi
• ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME – http://w2.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si_en.pdf