Saint Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio

Saint Francis is known to have tamed the wolf in Gubbio

Do you know Saint Francis of Assisi is sometimes depicted with a wolf by his side? The story has it that Saint Francis of Assisi was living in Gubbio when the village was assaulted by a fierce wolf. One day, a large wolf appeared and began terrorizing the village and its residents. At first, it began attacking the livestock and became a nuisance. As the villagers became more afraid, the wolf seemed to become braver and began attacking the villagers. It is said that many of the villagers faced their death and were sometimes devoured by this fierce wolf.

The villagers were desperate. It seemed no measure taken was enough to stop the wolf from causing harm to the village and its people. It was at this point that Saint Francis decided to meet the wolf and although the saint was advised against it, nothing could stop him. With God behind him, Saint Francis entered the gates of the village with a small group of his followers. This attracted the attention of the wolf and records indicate that the wolf rushed to attack Saint Francis with its jaws wide open.

Saint Francis was not afraid. It is said he did the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to stop hurting the villagers. This seemed to take a dramatic effect on the wolf and it is said that the wolf padded up to the saint meekly and laid its head in the saint’s hands. The story has it that Saint Francis then broke out and asked the wolf why it was doing so much evil on the land and destroying and killing people. He asked the wolf then to make peace with the village and said that the villagers should no longer be afraid of it. This caused the wolf to bow its head in shame. Saint Francis then said that the villagers will feed the wolf from that day on in exchange for a peaceful resolution made that the village will no longer live in fear of the wolf.

On hearing this, the wolf was said to have placed one of its forepaws in the saint’s hand and the agreement was made. Saint Francis then walked the wolf to Gubbio where villagers watched in shock as they saw the saint and the animal which terrorized them, move side by side in harmony. It almost seemed as if the wolf had become the pet of Saint Francis. From that point on, the village of Gubbio was no longer assaulted by the wolf which soon became a peaceful part of their everyday lives.