Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi
(Job 38:1.12-21.40:3-5; Luke 10:13-16)
A century after St. Francis’ death his friars collected stories and legends about him in a work called “I Fioeretti” or “Little Flowers.” One story tells of a wolf that was terrorizing the town of Gubbio. People were afraid to go outside the town walls when Francis arrived and decided to do something about the problem. The people warned him not to leave the unprotected town, but he crossed himself and went on to meet the wolf.
As he approached its lair, the wolf charged at Francis with open jaws. Francis made the sign of the cross again, and the wolf stopped in its tracks bowing its head before the saint. Then Francis scolded him, “Brother Wolf,” he said, “you have done much evil on this earth, destroying and killing God’s creatures without His permission; yes, you have not only destroyed animals, but you have even dared to devour men, made in the image of God; for which reason you are worthy of being hanged as a thief and a murderer. All men cry out against you, dogs pursue you, and all the inhabitants of this city are your enemies.”
Saint Francis promised the wolf that if he did no more harm to the town, the inhabitants of Gubbio would forgive his past sins, would not persecute him anymore, and would feed him every day so that he would never go hungry. In agreement, the wolf offered its paw to Francis as a pledge not to do any more harm. From then on the wolf stopped attacking inhabitants of the town and their animals until its death two years later. Meanwhile the wolf went from house to house to feed itself without ever being disappointed.
The wolf making peace with Francis is a symbol of the saint’s mastery over his own will to have things “his way.” After all, a wolf is not just ferocious, but devouring; it is powerful and wants to consume its prey. By receiving its paw as a sign of peace, Francis shows that he has mastered this characteristically human passion. In this way, Francis exhibits the humility of Christ. Along with several other qualities he possessed similar to those of the Lord Jesus, Francis’ humility made him truly “a second…” or “a new Christ.”
