The Wolf of Gubbio

[Guest guest]

Dear ones,

 

it is all very well about the knower knowing the known, but I must confess

that, for me at least, such discussions often leave the heart empty. It is

said that God laughs at our wisdom, but He yearns for our love.

 

Here is a 13th century account of an incident in the life of St Francis of

Assisi. Though three independent contemporary sources relate this story in

more or less the same words, I have no legally binding proof that it really

happened, and those who feel so inclined may feel free to discard it as a

fable.

 

Michael

 

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At the time when St 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 a prey of men also; 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. St 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, St Francis bent his steps alone towards the spot

where the wolf was known to be, while many people followed at a distance,

and witnessed the miracle. The wolf, seeing all this multitude, ran towards

St Francis 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 St Francis made the sign of the cross, than the terrible wolf,

closing his jaws, stopped running, and coming up to St Francis, lay down at

his feet as meekly as a lamb. And the saint thus addressed him: "Brother

wolf, thou hast done much evil in this land, destroying and killing the

creatures of God without his 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 so be thou no more offend them, and they shall

forgive thee all thy past offences, and neither men nor dogs shall pursue

thee any more." Having listened to these words, the wolf bowed his head,

and, by the movements of his body, his tail, and his eyes, made signs that

he agreed to what St Francis said. On this St Francis added: "As thou art

willing to make this peace, I promise thee that thou shalt be fed every day

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: cost thou make

this promise?" Then the wolf, bowing his head, made a sign that he

consented. Said St Francis again: "Brother wolf, wilt thou pledge thy faith

that I may trust to this thy promise?" and putting out his hand he received

the pledge of the wolf; for the latter lifted up his right paw and placed it

familiarly in the hand of St Francis, giving him thereby the only pledge

which was in his power. Then said St 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 spreading quickly

through the town, all the inhabitants, both men and women, small and great,

young and old, flocked to the market-place to see St 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 for ever, 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, St 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 to offend you in aught, 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 compact." Then all the people promised

with one voice to feed the wolf to the end of his days; and St Francis,

addressing the latter, said again: "And thou, brother wolf, dost thou

promise to keep the compact, 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 of his ears, endeavored to show that he was willing, as far as was in

his power, to hold to the compact. Then St 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 the hand of St Francis. Now this event

caused great joy in all the people, and a great devotion towards St 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 St Francis, through whose

merits they had been delivered from such a savage beast. The wolf lived two

years at Gubbio; he went familiarly 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, he 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 St Francis.