Sermon to the birds
My little sisters, the birds, much bounden are ye unto God, your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere, and hath also given you double and triple rainment; moreover He preserved your seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden to Him for the element of the air which He hath appointed for you; beyond all this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains for your drink; the mountains and valleys for your refuge and the high trees whereon to make your nests; and because ye know not how to spin or sow, God clotheth you, you and your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing that He hath bestowed on you so many benefits; and therefore, my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praises unto God.
Legend, Saint Francis of Assisi - c1220
History confirms that Saint Francis truly loved nature including all God's creatures. That he preached sermons to the birds is apocryphal and the above was surely composed sometime soon after his passing as legends about his life grew. What is certain, whoever composed the above sermon understood his birds. As anyone who has ever put out a feeder knows, the little cretens are incapable of gratitude!
