On Brother Wolf and Sister Birds

Francis of Assisi who lived in the thirteenth century is the most charming and unconventional of all Christian saints for his love and charity that extended to the natural world. He is known to have befriended even ferocious creatures. To him, a killer wolf was his Brother Wolf. On his death-bed, he is said to have thanked his donkey for carrying him in his earthly mission and the donkey, as per the story, wept.

Birds were his special friends. He called them his sisters. In one story, he entered a forest to preach God's love to a group of chattering birds. GK Chesterton, the 20th century English writer, propagandist and convert to Catholicism has written a small biography of the Saint. Inspite of Chesterton's characteristic combative style, it is an interesting book. It narrates how Francis dealt with the birds: He said with a gentle gesture, "Little sisters, if you have now had your say, it is time that I also should be heard." The birds turned silent and, as we can imagine, heard him in rapt attention!