He is a professor at the St. Bonaventure department of theology, of the Minor Conventual Friars of Rome. He admired the Author in every work. He attributed to the Creator the qualities he discovered in each one of his creatures and, from this sight, which became his joy, he would think of the cause. He sought his Beloved everywhere in his creation, making use of the entire universe, as a ladder to rise to God s throne. St. Francis called the animals, fire, and water, brothers and sisters, as all creatures come from the same source and, therefore, in a certain sense are members of one family.
Some ecologists regard man as the planet s cancer.
If they loved plants, in the right way, they would love men, for whom the Lord created plants, as the universe is for man. Man must make use of the universe to improve, safeguard and transform it for the Creator s glory. St. Francis respected creation because it is the work of God. However, nature is not God. St. Francis spoke clearly of creation and not of nature s identity.