St. Francis and the Birds Attraction

St. Francis and the Birds is one of two works of this kind. The twin piece is located in Assisi, Italy. The theme of the work is a story about St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment. As St. Francis journeyed with a companion, he caught sight of an array of wild birds. He ran toward them expecting them to take flight, but they remained calm. St. Francis began to preach and, as he spoke, the birds gazed attentively at him spreading their wings and pulling closer to his words. Upon completion of his sermon, St. Francis gave the birds a blessing and they flew off. From that day, St. Francis would bring the Word of God to his creatures. Frederick Franck was a painter, sculptor, and author of many books on life, art, and human spirituality. A lifelong student of Zen Buddhism, Franck created Pacem in Terris or Peace on Earth, a ruined watermill converted into a trans-religious sanctuary in Warwick, New York.