Experience proves that the love of children or parental affection exists as much among the wicked as among the good, and equally among animals, both tame and fierce. In fact it is sometimes stronger and more ardent among wicked people, just as among fierce animals. The reason is that every love which emanates from the Lord and influences what it reaches is there turned into the chief love of its life. For every living creature feels nothing but that it loves of itself, since the influence is imperceptible. When it is really loving itself, it makes the love of children its own, for it, so to speak, sees itself in them and them in itself, and sees itself united with them.

[2] That is why that love is more violent in the case of fierce animals, as among lions and lionesses, bears, leopards and wolves of both sexes, and likewise other animals, than among horses, deer, goats and sheep. The reason is that the fierce animals are dominant over the tame ones, so their self-love is predominant, and this love makes them love themselves in their offspring. So, as I said, the love which flows in turns into what is their own. It is of the Lord's Divine providence that this inflowing love is so turned into what is their own, and is thus the motive which causes wicked parents to protect and support their offspring. If it were not for this, there would be only a few survivors from the human race, and none at all from the fierce animals, which are none the less of some use. These facts make it plain that everyone is disposed to love, protect and support his offspring as the result of his particular love.