Tenderness

He spared lanterns, lamps, and candles unwilling to use his hand to put out their brightness which is a sign of the eternal light. He walks reverently over rocks, out of respect for Him who is called the Rock... 

When the brothers are cutting wood he forbids them to cut down the whole tree, so that it might have hope of sprouting again... 

Even for worms he had a warm love, since he had read this text about the Savior: I am a worm and not a man. That is why he used to pick them up from the road and put them in a safe place so that they would not be crushed by the footsteps of passerby.

... 

Whenever he found an abundance of flowers, he used to preach to them and invite them to praise the Lord, just as if they were endowed with reason.

That the bees not perish of hunger in the icy winter, he commands that honey and the finest wine be set out for them. 

He calls all animals by a fraternal name, although, among all kinds of beasts, he especially loves the meek.

- Thomas of Celano, The Life of Saint Francis.