St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio

We, creatures of God, are all children of the same Father. There is always a necessary connection between all children of the same father. It is only our sins that causes a kind of distancing between us and our other brethren in nature. St. Francis, the perfect imitator of Christ, through his life of holiness, traced back his roots with his brethren to a great extent. His life of Holiness and deep sense of the universal brotherhood, both with men and other creatures, gained him a filial relationship with all creatures of God. So, it was the case that he could communicate with animals and they would understand and obey his words.

     Thus, around the year 1220, in the town of Gubbio. There was a fierce wolf that began to devour the lives of both humans and livestock. The presence of the wolf began to spread much fear among the populace. It always stationed outside the town gates waiting for anyone that would dare to venture alone to devour him. All those who tried to kill it, received the same fate as those who ventured outside the city gates alone. 

    When Francis visited the town, he heard the stories concerning the wolf and the kind of fear it has spread among the populace. He decided to go and meet the fierce wolf. The people tried to hold him back but he insisted. When the wolf saw Francis, it rushed to meet him with its Jaws wide open but Francis made the sign of the Cross over it and  spoke these words to it "Brother wolf, thou has done so much evil in this land, destroying and killing the people of God without his permission; yea not only animals has thou devoured, but thou has even dared to devour men made in the image of God; for which thou art worthy of being hanged like a robber and a murderer. All men cry out against thee, the dogs pursue thee, and all the inhabitants of the city are thy enemy. But I will make peace between thee and them. O brother wolf, if so be thou no more offend them, and they shall forgive thee all thy past offenses, and neither man nor dog shall pursue thee anymore." The wolf bowed and submitted to Francis. Francis continued, "as thou art willing to make this peace, I promise thee that thou shall be fed by the inhabitants of this land everyday and so long as thou shall live among them, thou shall not suffer hunger, as it is hunger that made thee do so much evil; but if I obtain all this for thee, thou must promise, on thy side, never again to attack any animal or human being; dost thou make this promise"(Fioretti)

   

Thus, the wolf agreed by placing one of its fore-paws into the out stretched hands of St. Francis. St. Francis, then, led the wolf into the town, where he gathered all the people and explained to them the terms of agreement and how they must feed the wolf every day. The citizens, filled with tears on the holiness of St. Francis, agreed to the terms. Francis used the opportunity to deliver a sermon to the people. After the incident, the wolf moved from door to door to get his daily sustenance. It lived for  two more years before it died. The people of Gubbio greatly mourned it and gave it a good burial.