Beast and Saints - Review

Sierra, Nov, 1998

Beast and Saints by Helen Waddell (William B. Eerdmans, $12). Animals that talk, emote, and express moral ideas are usually exiled to children's literature, but there was a time when beasts were respected characters in spiritual reading. Some ancient Christian saints had an astonishing rapport with wildlife, and exemplary tales about them arose as early as the third century in Africa and the Middle East.

The ability to love wildlife and commune with it was a revered manifestation of sanctity among these hardy practitioners of desert solitaire and low-impact living. Typical of the legends is that of St. Gerasimus, who removed a thorn from the paw of a lion, which then "would not leave the old man, but followed after him wherever he went ... so that the old man marvelled at the gratitude or a wild beast." Another saint "watched over the very reptiles and creatures of the earth," and would warm a suffering animal in his armpit to help it recover "with all the healing art he had." Such tales offer insight into an ancient religious spirit less burdened by anthropocentrism. This welcome reprint includes the graceful original woodcuts by Robert Giddings of animals once included in the communion of saints.