St. Francis and Brother Fish
"Once St. Francis was sitting in a boat near a port in the lake of Rieti. A fisherman who had just caught a large carp rowed over to the saint and kindly offered him the fish. St. Francis accepted it joyfully and gracefully, and immediately began calling it 'Brother.' Then he placed the fish gently in the water and began praising the name of the Lord. But all the while Francis prayed, the fish continued to play beside the boat and would not leave until St. Francis finished his prayer and gave it permission to leave.
And so it was that St. Francis's total obedience to God gave him great dignity before creatures, who in turn obeyed him." --Celano, First Life, 61
Our obedience to God reflects on our relationship with Him and is an example to others--including God's animal kingdom--on how we should serve Him.
"Once St. Francis was sitting in a boat near a port in the lake of Rieti. A fisherman who had just caught a large carp rowed over to the saint and kindly offered him the fish. St. Francis accepted it joyfully and gracefully, and immediately began calling it 'Brother.' Then he placed the fish gently in the water and began praising the name of the Lord. But all the while Francis prayed, the fish continued to play beside the boat and would not leave until St. Francis finished his prayer and gave it permission to leave.
And so it was that St. Francis's total obedience to God gave him great dignity before creatures, who in turn obeyed him." --Celano, First Life, 61
Our obedience to God reflects on our relationship with Him and is an example to others--including God's animal kingdom--on how we should serve Him.
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