Brother Wolf

Taken from “The Little Flowers of Saint Francis”

At the time when Saint Francis was living in the city of Gubbio, a large wolf appeared in the neighborhood, so terrible and so fierce that he not only devoured other animals but made prey of men as well. And since he often approached the town, all the people were in great alarm and used to go about armed as if going to battle. Notwithstanding these precautions, if any of the inhabitants ever met him alone, he was sure to be devoured, as all defense was useless: and, through fear of the wolf, they dared not go beyond the city walls.

Saint Francis, feeling great compassion for the people of Gubbio, resolved to go and meet the wolf, though all advised him not to do so.

Making the sign of the holy cross, and putting all his confidence in God, he went forth from the city, taking his brethren with him; but these fearing to go any farther, Saint Francis alone turned his steps toward the spot where the wolf was known to be, while many people followed at a distance.

The wolf, seeing all this multitude, ran towards the saint with his jaws wide open. As he approached, the saint, making the sign of the cross, cried out: “Come hither, brother wolf; I command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else.” Marvelous to tell, no sooner had Saint Francis made the sign of the cross than the terrible wolf, closing his jaws, stopped running and, coming up to Saint Francis, lay down at his feet as meekly as a lamb.

Then the saint addressed him saying: “Brother wolf, thou hast done much evil in this land, destroying and killing the creatures of God without permission; yea, not animals only hast thou destroyed, but thou hast even dared to devour men, made after the image of God; for which thing 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 this city are thy enemies; but I will make peace between them and thee, O brother wolf. If thou no more offend them, they shall forgive thee all thy past offenses, and neither men nor dogs shall pursue thee anymore.”

Having listened to these words, the wolf bowed his head, and, by the movements of his body, his tail, and his eyes, indicated that he agreed to what Saint Francis had said.

At this, Francis confirmed: “As thou art willing to make this peace, I promise thee that thou shalt be fed everyday by the inhabitants of this land so long as thou shalt live among them; thou shalt no longer suffer hunger, as it is hunger which has 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 any human being. Dost thou make this promise?”

Then the wolf, bowing his head, made a sign that he consented. Saint Francis continued: “Brother wolf, wilt thou pledge thy faith that I may trust in this thy promise?” Putting out his hand, he received the pledge of the wolf, for the latter lifted up his paw and placed it familiarly in the hand of Francis, giving him thereby the only pledge which was in his power.

Then said Saint Francis, addressing him again: “Brother wolf, I command thee, in the name of Christ, to follow me immediately, without hesitation or doubting, that we may go together to ratify this peace which we have concluded in the name of God.” And the wolf, obeying him, walked by his side as meekly as a lamb, to the great astonishment of all the people.

Now, the news of this most wonderful miracle spread quickly through the town, so all the inhabitants, both men and women, small and great, young and old, flocked to the market place to see Saint Francis and the wolf. All the people being assembled, the saint got up to preach, saying, amongst other things, how for our sins God permits such calamities, and how much greater and more dangerous are the flames of hell, which last forever, than the rage of a wolf, which can kill the body only; and how much we ought to dread the jaws of hell if the jaws of so small an animal as a wolf can make a whole city tremble through fear.

The sermon being ended, Saint Francis added these words: “Listen, my brethren, the wolf who is here before you has promised and pledged his faith that he consents to make peace with you all and no more offend you, and you must promise to give him each day his necessary food; to which, if you consent, I promise in his name that he will most faithfully observe the contract.”

Then all the people promised with one voice to feed the wolf to the end of his days; and Saint Francis, addressing the latter, said again: “And thou, brother wolf, dost thou promise to keep the contract, and never again to offend either man or beast, or any other creature?” And the wolf knelt down, bowing his head, and, by the motions of his tail and ears, endeavored to show that he was willing, as far as was in his power, to hold to the contract.

Francis continued: “Brother wolf, as thou gavest me a pledge of this thy promise when we were outside the town, so now I will that thou renew it in the sight of all this people and assure me that I have done well to promise in thy name;” and the wolf lifting up his paw placed it in Saint Francis’ hand..

Now this event caused great joy in all the people and a great devotion towards Saint Francis, both because of the novelty of the miracle and because of the peace which had been concluded with the wolf; and they lifted up their voices to heaven, praising and blessing God, who had sent them Saint Francis, through whose merits they had been delivered from such a savage beast.

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The wolf lived two years in Gubbio; he went in a friendly manner from door to door without harming anyone, and all the people received him courteously, feeding him with great pleasure, and no dog barked at him as he went about.

At last, after two years, the wolf died of old age, and the people of Gubbio mourned his loss greatly; for when they saw him going about so gently amongst them all, he reminded them of the virtue and sanctity of Saint Francis.

Note: As seen in the Crusade Magazine – September/October 2006 (Family Series)