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Secondary sourceSpeechc. 1220

Sermon to the Birds

Francis of Assisi · c. 1220

A legendary story describing Francis preaching to birds, taken from later accounts of his life rather than his own writing.

This legendary sermon is attributed to Francis and reflects his reputation for closeness to nature.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This short text, dated to about 1220, presents Francis addressing birds as his 'little sisters,' praising God for giving them freedom and provision. It comes from the later Fioretti ('Little Flowers') tradition of legends about Francis rather than from his own hand.

Why it matters

The sermon reflects the image of Francis as a figure deeply connected to nature and all creatures, a theme that became central to how he is remembered. Even though it was written down by others after his death, it shaped how generations have understood his teachings about humility, gratitude and care for creation.

Look closer

  • What words does the text use to describe the relationship between the birds and God?
  • Why might later followers have wanted to record stories like this about Francis?
  • How might this legendary account differ from something Francis actually said himself?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Francis on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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