A SERMON TO THE BIRDS

 “My little sisters the birds,
 Ye owe much to God, your Creator,
 And ye ought to sing his praise at all times and in all places,
 Because he has given you liberty to fly about into all places;
 And though ye neither spin nor sew,
 He has given you a twofold and a threefold clothing
 For yourselves and for your offspring.
 Two of all your species He sent into the Ark with Noah
 That you might not be lost to the world;
 Besides which, He feeds you, though ye neither sow nor reap.
 He has given you fountains and rivers to quench your thirst,
 Mountains and valleys in which to take refuge,
 And trees in which to build your nests;
 So that your Creator loves you much,
 Having thus favored you with such bounties.
 Beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude,
 And study always to give praise to God.”
 [From 'The Little Flowers of St. Francis'- a classic collection of legends about the life of St. Francis of Assisi]
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 THE SERMON TO THE BIRDS
 “My brothers the birds, you have good reason to praise your creator and to love him always; he gave you feathers to clothe yourselves, wings to fly and everything you need to live.
 Of all God's creatures, you are the most gracious; he has given you space and its simplicity as your field;
 You do not have to sow or reap; he gives you food and shelter without you having to worry about it.
 [of Saint Francis of Assisi | Source: Thomas of Celano (Life of Saint Francis of Assisi, French translation, introduction and notes by D. Vorreux, Paris, Éditions franciscaines, 1952).]