St. Francis and the Birds

Q U I C K S C A N

Francis’ sermon to the birds
All creatures form one family
Will other creatures be with us in heaven?

Sculpture of St. Francis at Rivo Torto, near Assisi. (Photo by Jack Wintz, O.F.M.)

We often associate St. Francis of Assisi with birds. There are 13th-century stories of Francis preaching to birds in trees. A famous painting by Giotto portrays Francis humbly admiring birds on the ground, his hand raised in blessing. In popular images of Francis today, we see birds circling his head or perched on his shoulders. And let’s not forget the countless admirers of St. Francis who are happy to place him on their birdbaths!

In reading St. Bonaventure’s Life of St. Francis recently, I was surprised by where Bonaventure positioned what was Francis’ most famous story of preaching to birds. He has the story occurring right at the point in Francis’ life where Francis is struggling with a deep personal dilemma: Should he retire from the world and devote himself entirely to prayer or should he continue traveling about as a preacher of the gospel? To answer this question, St. Francis sends brothers to seek the advice of two of his most trusted colleagues: Brother Sylvester and the holy virgin Clare and her sisters.

The word comes back very quickly from both Sylvester and Clare that it is their clear judgment that God wants Francis to keep proclaiming the good news of God’s saving love. No sooner does Francis hear their response than he immediately stands up, and in the words of St. Bonaventure, “without the slightest delay he takes to the roads, to carry out the divine command with great fervor.”

Francis’ sermon to the birds

The typical reader at this juncture, I believe, would expect St. Bonaventure to portray St. Francis as rushing off to the nearest village or marketplace to begin preaching the gospel to the people gathered there. But where does Francis actually go? Francis’ very next stop, according to Bonaventure, is this: “He came to a spot where a large flock of birds of various kinds had come together. When God’s saint saw them, he quickly ran to the spot and greeted them as if they were endowed with reason….

“He went right up to them and solicitously urged them to listen to the word of God, saying,  ‘Oh birds, my brothers and sisters, you have a great obligation to praise your Creator, who clothed you in feathers and gave you wings to fly with, provided you with pure air and cares for you without any worry on your part.’…The birds showed their joy in a remarkable fashion: They began to stretch their necks, extend their wings, open their beaks and gaze at him attentively.

“He went through their midst with amazing fervor of spirit, brushing against them with his tunic. Yet none of them moved from the spot until the man of God made the sign of the cross and gave them permission to leave; then they all flew away together. His companions waiting on the road saw all these things. When he returned to them, that pure and simple man began to accuse himself of negligence because he had not preached to the birds before.”

Thomas of Celano, who wrote an earlier biography of St. Francis, told this same story of Francis’ sermon to the birds, including Francis’ admission of “negligence,” but Celano adds this sentence: “From that day on, [Francis] carefully exhorted all birds, all animals, all reptiles, and also insensible creatures, to praise and love the creator…” (see I Celano XXI)

All creatures form one family

Bonaventure’s story of Francis preaching to birds was a minor shock to me and perhaps to you also. Had Francis not just learned from his special advisors Brother Sylvester and Lady Clare that God wanted him to continue his preaching ministry? And should we not assume that the primary audience of his preaching should be other human beings—and not bunches of birds? I believe that Bonaventure is trying to shock us into widening our horizons, and into learning with St. Francis that the whole family of creation deserves more respect and ought to be invited to praise God along with us human beings. Maybe just as Francis accused himself of negligence for not inviting the birds—and other animals, reptiles, and so forth—to praise God with him, so we need to admit the same kind of negligence, too.

The more St. Francis grew in wisdom and in his understanding that God’s saving love goes out to all creatures, the more he began to see that all creatures make up one family. The most important key to Francis’ understanding that all creatures form one family is the Incarnation. Francis had a great fascination for the feast of Christmas. He was deeply aware of that one moment in history in which God entered creation and the Word became flesh. In his mind, this awesome event sent shockwaves through the whole fabric of creation. The Divine Word not only became human. The Word of God became flesh, entering not only the family of humanity but the whole family of creation, becoming one in a sense with the very dust out of which all things were made.

Francis had a keen sense that all creatures—not just humans—must be included in the celebration of Christmas. Francis’ biographers tell us that he wanted the emperor to ask all citizens to scatter grain along the roads on Christmas Day so that the birds and other animals would have plenty to eat. Walls, too, should be rubbed with food, Francis said, and the beasts in the stable should receive a bounteous meal on Christmas Day. He believed that all creatures had a right to participate in the celebration of Christmas. 

More and more, Francis harbored within himself a profound instinct that the saving plan of God, as revealed by the child-Savior born in Bethlehem, was to touch every part of the created world. Given this vision, it was natural for Francis to take literally Jesus’ command in Mark’s Gospel to “proclaim the gospel to every creature”—to birds and fish, rabbits and wolves, as well as to humans. St. Francis refused to be a human chauvinist—presuming that he was to be saved apart from the rest of creation.

Will other creatures be with us in heaven?

Will we see our pets and other creatures in the next life? Only God can answer a question like this. But because of his preaching to the birds and his growing respect for other creatures, St. Francis seemed to be developing the insight that God’s plan of salvation is perhaps larger than most of us have imagined. Near the end of his life, Francis composed his Canticle of the Creatures in which he invites all creatures to praise God—Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Fire, Sister Water, and our Sister Mother Earth and so forth. He seems to see more clearly than ever that all creatures make up one family of creation. And this leads to the question: If we, like Francis, are expected to invite all creatures to praise God with us during our life here on earth, shouldn’t they also be invited to praise God in heaven, as well?

Perhaps I have whetted your appetite with the question of whether other creatures will be with us in heaven. There is not space in this column for me to pursue this issue further. But I invite those who wish to explore the question in more detail to read an article I wrote in the July 2003 issue of St. Anthony Messenger, “Will I See My Little Doggy in Heaven?” In this article, I present 10 reasons, from Scripture and Christian tradition, why I believe that the whole family of creation is included in God’s plan of salvation. An important saint in our Christian tradition who has helped us widen our understanding of God’s saving love for creatures is certainly St. Francis of Assisi. With the feast day of St. Francis right around the corner (October 4), now is a good time to imitate Francis’ great love and respect for the created world.

To learn more about St. Francis’ love and respect for creatures and especially to share his values with children, check out Friar Jack’s children’s book, St. Francis in San Francisco. Click here to learn about his exclusive web-only offer and order a special autographed copy, along with a free teachers’ guide for parents and mentors of children. (See ad above on right.)

Friar Jim’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jim’s “Catechism Quiz: How Do We React to Mother Teresa’s Doubts?”

Dear Friar Jim: Thank you for the clear explanation (to me anyway) of the “dark night” Mother Teresa experienced. Hopefully your words will reach others and educate them. It's very discouraging when those who have no knowledge of or background in religion (or any religious studies) make such terrible wide-ranging statements off the top of their head. Judy

Dear Judy: Yes, you are right. Some do not understand the whole process of a journey and struggles that cause faith to grow. Friar Jim

Dear Friar Jim: Is it possible that Mother Teresa was suffering from depression? Her description of her feelings sure sounds a lot like it, and I have been wondering if depression could have played a role in her expressed darkness. Ann

Dear Ann: In the midst of a crisis, extreme suffering, the symptoms experienced could well be that of depression and anxiety. Yet, it would be important to understand that it was not a kind of pathology that was happening. It was a deepening experience of faith which would bring about similar feelings.
Friar Jim

Send your feedback to friarjack@franciscanmedia.org.

Great Christmas Gift!

Friar Jack’s book teaches children about Francis’ love and respect for creatures. Ages 4-8. Web-only exclusive offer of a special autographed copy, as well as a free teachers’ guide.
Learn more here.

As Franciscans celebrate the 800th anniversary of their founding, this collection of prayers and reflections from Franciscans in several countries will be a valued addition to your trove of prayer resources
Learn more here.

Check our national list of pet blessings that will take place around the feast of St. Francis (Oct. 4).

A free monthly e-newsletter for catechetical leaders. The focus is parish catechesis beyond textbooks and classrooms.
Click here to find the latest issue.

This much-loved classic tells the life story of St. Francis simply, lyrically, faithfully. Read by the author. Unabridged: 4 CDs. Click here to order.

With guides ranging from Francis of Assisi, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Thérèse of Lisieux, centuries of mystical insights invite us to experience for ourselves the boundless mystery of God. Learn more here.

Send beautiful, free Catholic e-greetings to celebrate saints, anniversaries, birthdays and many other occasions.
Click here for details.

The essential handbook for all those seeking to pray and live the Franciscan way. Learn more here.

Sample book chapters, audio clips and video clips before purchasing items from St. Anthony Messenger Press.
Click here for more information.