10/10/2021
What an incredible photo!
The blue bird, next to the carved bird, is looking at St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) as intensely as if he could hear him...
A rare and happy photo by Jim Frazier.
Sculpture by Frank C. Ga***rd, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The Sermon to the Birds
One day, while following the Spoleto valley with his companions and approaching the town of Bevagna (16 km south of Assisi), Francis of Assisi saw a multitude of birds (woodpeckers, crows, rooks,...).
Driven by his love of nature, he approached them. The magnetism between him and the birds works. None of them fly away out of fear. Rather, they are ready to listen to what he is going to say, for it is about God that he is going to speak to them. My brothers the birds," he says, "you have reason to praise and love your creator, who gave you feathers to clothe yourselves, wings to fly, and everything you need to live.
The birds stretched their necks, spread their wings, opened their beaks and looked at him with the greatest attention. Francis of Assisi was now in their midst, he blessed them with a sign of the cross and allowed them to fly away. Drunk with joy at having been recognised, he soon joined his companions. From that day on he did not fail to exhort all the animals, which had become docile, to listen to his preaching, giving thanks to the Creator.