In order to become a saint. the Catholic Church must be satisfied that the prospective individual has done something truly miraculous. What a saint is known for is usually the result of that event. For St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals, the miracle included speaking with a big, bad wolf.
St. Francis Learns of the Wolf
According to legend, St. Francis (who, of course, wasn't St. Francis then but simply "Francis") was visiting a small town called Gubbio in Italy. It came to his attention that a hungry wolf had been terrorizing the town at night. Inasmuch as many of Gubbio’s residents were farmers, this wolf brought terrible hardships upon the town. He stole chickens and turkeys and even some mammals like goats and sheep. There were even allegations that the wolf had attacked people.
St. Francis was not known for being particularly brave, but evidently he knew that he had to do something. He knew in his heart that he could help the town and small shop owners if only he could find a way to communicate with the wolf. The townspeople thought he was crazy. They called to him and mocked him for doing something that would surely cost him his life. The wolf had never shown any interest in talking about his feelings. He was just hungry and whatever he found for dinner was fair play. But St. Francis was a holy man, and his faith was strong. He believed that God would take care of him, watch over him, and not let anything happen to him. He started out with a small entourage, but by the time he reached the gates to the village, he had only one person with him, a friar.
St. Francis Meets the Wolf
The friar also served as a witness. As they walked along the trail, they watched warily for any sign of the wolf. But it didn’t take long before the wolf showed himself. Teeth bared and growling menacingly, the wolf was preparing to attack. He slowly advanced on Francis and the friar.
When St. Francis saw the wolf, he turned toward him and did not back down. He stood facing the wolf and the two regarded one another. St. Francis made the sign of the cross and the wolf immediately stopped growling and closed his mouth. According to the legend, St. Francis spoke to the wolf and said “Come to me Brother Wolf, and in the name of Jesus Christ I am asking you to not hurt us.” To the friar’s amazement the wolf lowered his head and walked submissively toward St. Francis. When he got to St. Francis, the wolf lay down at his feet.
St. Francis Talks to the Wolf
St. Francis sat beside the wolf and explained to him that his hunting routine was hurting a lot of the townspeople. He told him that the animals he was killing belonged to someone who needed those animals in order to make a living. St. Francis respectfully asked the wolf to stop. The animal showed St. Francis that he understood by moving his body back and forth, wagging his tail like a dog, and offering his paw as a sign of understanding and agreement.
The townspeople were gathering at the town square. Witnesses who were hiding in the woods and watching the wolf and St. Francis spread the word that St. Francis was making a pact with the wolf. St. Francis then asked the wolf to come and meet the people so that they would no longer be afraid. The wolf agreed. When they got to the town square, the townspeople promised the wolf that they would feed him and care for him as long as he respected the boundaries they had set. And for two years, they did just that. The wolf's death was mourned by all.
So was St. Francis a latter-day Dr. Doolittle? It would appear so. As a result of his extraordinary encounter with the wolf, St. Francis was canonized by the Catholic Church for the miracle of talking to an animal and saving the town. He is and will forever be known as the Patron Saint of Animals because of his ability to communicate with the animal world.
Sources:
Brother Wolf of Gubbio: The Legend of St. Francis (Chronical Books, 2000).
Michelle Rivera - Michelle A. Rivera is the author of several books including HOSPICE HOUNDS, Animals and Healing at the Borders of Death; CANINES IN THE ...
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