by Gearóid Francisco Ó Conaire OFM

Ireland/Central America

by Gearóid Francisco Ó Conaire OFM

Ireland/Central America

Excerpts from a Thesis

Excerpts from a Thesis

Part IIPart II

Francis and the BirdsFrancis and the Birds

Francis’ Sermon to the Birds

Francis’ Sermon to the Birds

• exemplifies ‘what would become the typically Franciscan attitude toward creation’ and

• demonstrates that the obedience of creatures to Francis is a sign of his obedience to Christ and of his holiness

Celano writes: ‘Francis came to a certain place near Bevagna where a very great number of birds of various kinds had

congregated - namely, doves, crows, and some others popularly called daws.’

Celano writes: ‘Francis came to a certain place near Bevagna where a very great number of birds of various kinds had

congregated - namely, doves, crows, and some others popularly called daws.’

When the most blessed servant of God, Francis, saw them,…he left his companions in the

road and ran eagerly toward the birds.

When he was close enough to them,

seeing that they were waiting expectantly for

him,

he greeted the birds ‘in the usual way: ‘May the Lord give ‘May the Lord give you peace’you peace’ and is surprised when the birds did not fly away. He realizes that prayer enabled the birds to understand and respond to his exhortation.

Francis then ‘begged them to listen to the Word of God’

and addressed them as if they were humans:

“My brothers, birds, you should praise your creator

very much and always love him;

he gave you feathers to clothe you, wings so that you can fly, and whatever else was

necessary for you.”

““God made you God made you noblenoble among his creatures, among his creatures, and he gave you a home in the purity of the air”and he gave you a home in the purity of the air”

““God made you God made you noblenoble among his creatures, among his creatures, and he gave you a home in the purity of the air”and he gave you a home in the purity of the air”

“Though you neither sow nor reap, he nevertheless protects and governs you without any solicitude on your part.”

Finally, Francis blessed them and gave them

permission to fly away.

Finally, Francis blessed them and gave them

permission to fly away.

Celano recounts that the birds ‘rejoiced in a wonderful way’ and Francis ‘passed through

their midst’ and went on his way.

These are obvious parallels with Jesus and the Apostolic Community, alluding to the spread of the Gospel as a result of preaching by the Apostles (Acts 2:41) and the continuation of Jesus’ mission. In other words, Francis is participating in the apostolic mission, first given to the Apostles and now to him.

Francis considered birds worthy recipients of the good news.

Francis considered birds worthy recipients of the good news.

He was able to link the early respect for creation with his new found missionary vocation.The fact that Francis addresses the birds as “noble” is an indication of respect for his fellow creatures.

He was able to link the early respect for creation with his new found missionary vocation.The fact that Francis addresses the birds as “noble” is an indication of respect for his fellow creatures.

Whereas traditionally the idea was to exhort creation to give praise to Yahweh, as demonstrated in the creation psalms, Francis addressed the birds, just as he would humans, recognizing them to be worthy subjects in their own right to receive the gospel message. This was in order to ‘restore apostolic harmony to the whole world’.

This deep realization is highlighted by the fact that ‘he began to blame himself for negligence in not having preached to the birds before, seeing that they had listened to the word of God with such reverence.’

Francis understood that his mission was to proclaim the

gospel to humanity, and then, literally, to every creature. From

then on ‘he solicitously admonished all birds, all animals

and reptiles, and even creatures that have no feeling, to praise

and love their creator daily, when the name of the Saviour has been invoked, for he saw their obedience by personal

experience.’

The story of Francis’ encounter with “Brothers Birds” highlights important elements in Celano’s understanding of Francis’s personality:

• he addresses creaturescreatures as his brothers and sistersbrothers and sisters;

• he preaches to them;

• he delights in them;

• he shows care and affection towards them

• and they inspire him to pray.

He was gentle with earthworms and He was gentle with earthworms and lifted them from the paths so they lifted them from the paths so they would not be crushed. would not be crushed.

In winter he had honey given to the

bees, so they would not die of

the cold.

When he came across expanses of When he came across expanses of flowers he would preach to them, flowers he would preach to them, inviting them to praise the Lord.inviting them to praise the Lord.

Grain fields, vineyards,Grain fields, vineyards, rocks, trees, springs, rocks, trees, springs,

Francis invited to remain faithful to their love of God.

Francis invited to remain faithful to their love of God.

orchards, earth, fire,orchards, earth, fire, breeze and wind,breeze and wind,

He couldn’t bear to see animals trapped and did his best to have them freed.

He couldn’t bear to see animals trapped and did his best to have them freed.

He freed a trapped rabbit and returned a fish to a lake.

He freed a trapped rabbit and returned a fish to a lake.

But he was not a sentimentalist.

He was not ‘blind to the enigmatic

abysses of nature, to its seeming

contradictions and conflicts

But he was not a sentimentalist.

He was not ‘blind to the enigmatic

abysses of nature, to its seeming

contradictions and conflicts

He cursed a sow for killing a new born lamb, even though the sow was a creature of God.

He referred

to money

as “flies”.

He referred

to money

as “flies”.

He predicted the downfall of a greedy baby robin.

He predicted the downfall of a greedy baby robin.

He encouraged his brothers ‘to eat of any

food put before them’,including, very occasionally, meat.

He encouraged his brothers ‘to eat of any

food put before them’,including, very occasionally, meat.

The incident of Francis and the birds was a pivotal transformative experience for Francis in his attitude towards creation, demonstrative of a “new paradigm” reaching its greatest manifestation in the “Canticle of Creatures”.