WOLF OF GUBBIO
One of the most well known and popular stories of St. Francis of Assisi's life is the wolf of Gubbio. In addition to it being a wonderful story, it has many lessons for professed Franciscans, those who have begun their initial formation and especially so for those who are discerning their call to become Franciscans. The two main lessons to be learned are: one, we must turn away from sin, seek God and do fitting penance and two, that being a Franciscan is a call to action that will require the individual to seek out those opportunities in which God is asking him/her to be His instrument of peace.
The Story of The Wolf of Gubbio
St. Francis was staying in the town of Gubbio where there existed a large and fierce wolf, whose hunger drove it to devour not only animals, but humans as well. All in the town were in a state of terror and took weapons with them when having to leave for the countryside. Unfortunately, weapons were not enough for those who met this wolf and as such, the towns people hardly ventured outside the towns gate.
In response to all this, God had plans to bring the holiness of St. Francis to Gubbio. St. Francis had pity on the towns people and decided to go out and meet the wolf, much to the objection and warnings of the people. St. Francis paid no heed to their warnings, trusting fully in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Master of all creatures, he ventured out to find the wolf. Some peasants accompanied him, but could not go very far as fear struck them. St. Francis ordered them to remain where they were, as he was going to where the wolf lived. Many in the town climbed onto places to witness this event.
The wolf saw St. Francis and came running at him with its mouth wide open. St. Francis made the Sign of the Cross toward it and the power of God checked the wolf, made it slow down and close its mouth. St. Francis said to the wolf, "Come to me Brother Wolf. In the name of Christ, I order you not to hurt me or anyone." Already been made to stop running and close its mouth, the wolf now lowered its head and lay down at the feet of St. Francis. It is at this moment that St. Francis gave Brother Wolf his famous speech:
"...Brother Wolf, you have done great harm in this region, and you have committed horrible crimes by destroying God's creatures without any mercy. You have been destroying not only irrational animals, but you even have the more detestable brazenness to kill and devour human beings made in the image of God. You therefore deserve to be put to death just like the worst robber and murderer. Consequently everyone is right in crying out against you and complaining, and this whole town is your enemy. But, Brother Wolf, I want to make peace between you and them, so that they will not be harmed by you any more, and after they have forgiven you all your past crimes, neither men nor dogs will pursue you any more."
In obedience to St. Francis, the wolf moved its body, in such a way to demonstrate his acceptance of the Saint's words. Saint Francis assured the wolf that from now on, he would have the towns people feed him every day so that he will never go hungry again, for it was out of hunger that Brother Wolf committed this terrible acts. In return Brother Wolf was never to hurt any animal or human again. The wolf had agreed to all this and St. Francis asked for a pledge, in which the wolf gently laid its paw on the hand of St. Francis. Saint Francis had the wolf accompany him to the town to make peace with everyone, in the name of the Lord and the wolf began to immediately walk beside St. Francis. When the people saw this, they were amazed and word quickly spread that all were gathered in the central market place where St. Francis and the wolf were.
Saint Francis gave this large crowd a wonderful sermon, stating among many things that the troubles of this town were permitted by God due to their sins and how the fires of hell are much more dangerous than a fierce wolf and how much more they should fear being plunged into hell. Saint Francis strongly encouraged the people, "...come back to the Lord, and do fitting penance, and God will free you from the wolf in this world and from the devouring fire of hell in the next world."
After, St. Francis spoke of the peace pact that he made with the wolf, "Listen, dear people. Brother Wolf, who is standing here before you, has promised me and has given me a pledge that he will make peace with you and will never hurt you if you promise to feed him everyday. And I pledge myself as bondsman for Brother Wolf that he will faithfully keep this peace pact." All gathered agreed. Saint Francis asked the wolf in front of everyone if he will keep his promise to not hurt any humans or animals and the wolf responded by bowing its head, twisting its body and wagging its tail as a clear sign that he would keep his promise.
As a further demonstration to the towns folk of the sincerity of this pact, St. Francis asked the wolf, "Brother Wolf, just as you gave me a pledge of this when we were outside the city gate, I want you to give me a pledge here before all these people that you will keep the pact and will never betray me for having pledged myself as your bondsman." As a sign of the wolf's pledge, he raised his right paw and placed it on St. Francis' hand. The crowd was filled with amazement and joy out of devotion for the Saint as well as over the novelty of the miracle and the peace pact. In response, the towns people began to shout, praising and blessing the Lord Jesus Christ who had sent them St. Francis. From that day, the peace pact remained in tact. The wolf went from door to door receiving food and no one was hurt. Eventually, the wolf died two years later, some thing all were saddened by as when it was a reminder of the virtues and holiness of St. Francis: peace, kindness and patience.
Praised be Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lessons From Gubbio
The first lesson is directly revealed by St. Francis' words of "...come back to the Lord, and do fitting penance, and God will free you from the wolf in this world and from the devouring fire of hell in the next world." Although the words are self explanatory, the occasion and timing in which they were expressed should give us all some thing to to think about. Not many of us experience the daily terror that the people of Gubbio did and Saint Francis' warning was timed in such a way by God to ensure its efficacy.
For us today, do we not need to pay special attention to our deeds? Are we the cause of sin in our environments? Are there wolves in our own world? Do we seek reconciliation to peacefully resolve matters or do we seek weapons to fight against our own wolves? Are we an accessory to anyone's sins? Do we need to examine our consciences more regularly?
The second lesson is, be a peacemaker, as revealed by St. Francis' actions. Franciscans are instruments of God's peace and in today's world, there are several challenges that await us: war, famine, injustice, immorality, abortion, attacks on the family, persecution etc. These and so many more are the wolves of our day. As Franciscans, we must take action, like our Seraphic Father St. Francis and seek ways of reconciliation, justice, peace and at the same time bringing to others joy and hope. If we strive to follow St. Francis, we too will be God's instruments giving those we help that same sense of peace, joy and gratitude to God that the people of Gubbio experienced. The Secular Franciscan Rule Chapter II Way of Life, states, "Mindful that they are bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon. Messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance, they should strive to bring joy and hope to others..."
Being a peacemaker entails action. Action that will require us as Franciscans to seek ways of being God's instruments as opposed to waiting idly for something to happen. As our Seraphic Father took on the courageous initiative of leaving the town's gate to seek where the wolf lived, we too must take such similar initiatives. The Secular Franciscan Rule Chapter II Way of Life states, "Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith." As Franciscans we must respond to the wolf crisis of our day, such as abortion, euthanasia, human embryo research, same sex "marriage," pornography, injustice and immorality in all forms, and other threats to the value and inviolability of human life, prompting us to act. As Saint Francis trusted fully in God, by signing the cross over the wolf, we too must place our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to guide us as His instruments in the battle of good versus evil.
An important aspect of the peace making efforts of Saint Francis was his naming the wolf, "Brother Wolf." By doing so, St. Francis treated the wolf as a brother, an example for all of us to follow. It can be difficult at times to view those who are causing disturbance, creating problems for us or are the source of some trouble or other, as brothers and sisters, but this is what we must and should do. To demonize others is to judge them and what we as Franciscans must do is recognize the divine seed in everyone, to love those who are deeply loved by God.
Peacemaking will no doubt mean the bringing of people together to find a common agreement, in short reconciliation. Saint Francis demonstrates this clearly by bringing Brother Wolf into the town with all the people and making a peace pact that was to be verified with a pledge.
As Franciscans we must realize that conflict is often a result of an unjust situation. Like in the town of Gubbio, the people had plenty of food to eat, where as Brother Wolf was starving and so the situation that arouse was partly the fault of the towns people. The peaceful resolution requires some thing from both sides, a willingness to change.
Let us seek ways of feeding the hungry wolves of our day, as part of our willingness to change, to agree for a peaceful and just resolution to whatever the crisis may be. Being a Franciscan is a call to live the Gospel life, but it is also a call to be an instrument of God's peace.