A Charitable Heart

This is a charitable heart: It is a heart burning with love for the whole creation, for humans, for the birds, for the beasts, for the demons - for all creatures.  One who has such a heart cannot see or call to mind a creature without having eyes being filled with tears by reason of the immense compassion which seizes the heart; a heart which is softened and can no longer bear to see or learn from others of any suffering, even the smallest pain, being inflicted on a creature.  That is why such a person never ceases to pray also for the animals, that they may be preserved and purified.  This person will even pray for the reptiles, moved by the infinite pity which reigns in the hearts of those who are becoming united with God.

– St. Isaac of Nineveh, c.613–c. 700