Folio 36r - the night owl, continued. De epopo; the hoopoe
he said to the leper: 'See thou tell no man' (Matthew, 8:4). Of this light it is said: 'And from the wicked their light is witholden' (Job, 38:15), that is, the glory of present life. He himself is the light inaccessible 'which lighteth every man' (John, 1:9). The light, therefore, shuns the light, that is, the truth shuns the vanity of worldly glory. The night-owl flies at night in search of food, as Christ converts sinners into the body of the Church by preaching. In a moral sense, moreover, the night-owl signifies to us not just any righteous man, but rather one who lives among other men yet hides from their view as much as possible. He flees from the light, in the sense that he does not look for the glory of human praise. It is said of this light: 'Will the light of the wicked not be put out, and the spark of his fire not shine?' (see Job, 17:5). 'Light' here signifies the prosperity of present life. The light of the wicked is extinguished, in the sense that the prosperity of our fleeting life ends with life itself. Will the flame of his fire not shine? 'Fire' here is the passion of temporal desires. Its flame is the splendour or outward show of power which comes from its inner fire. But it will not shine because on the day of death all outward splendour and power will perish. The night-owl keeps watch in the night, as when the righteous man, alert to the darkness of sinners, avoids their errors. It lives in the cracks of walls, in the sense that he considers the weakness of the world and awaits its downfall. It seeks food by night, as when he reflects upon the life of sinners and uses their example to nourish the mind of the righteous. Of the hoopoe When the bird called the hoopoe sees that its parents have grown old and that their eyes are dim, it plucks out their old plumage and licks their eyes and keeps them warm, and its parents' life is renewed. It as if the hoopoe said to them: 'Just as you took pains in feeding me, I will do likewise for you.' If birds, who lack reason, do as much for each other, how much more should men, who have the power of reason, support their parents in return; because the law says: 'And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death' (Exodus, 21:17); it is as if he were guilty of parricide or matricide. See how the hoopoes pluck their parents' plumage and lick their eyes, in order that they should regain their former health.
Folio 36r - the night owl, continued. De epopo; the hoopoe | The Aberdeen Bestiary | The University of Aberdeen