One day, Francis travelled to the city of Gubbio. But, unusually, no-one from the city came out to greet him. When Francis reached the city gates, he founded them tightly locked. The little monk knocked on the gates. An eye appeared at a spy hole, the gates opened slightly and a hand roughly pulled Francis inside.

The gate keeper apologized for this rude welcome and went onto to explain the reason for it.

"For months, our city has been under seige from a fearsome wolf who has devoured all our animals and even a few of our brothers and sisters."

On hearing all about the wolf, Francis asked for the gates to be opened again. Against the advice of the gate keeper, he slipped outside and headed for the wolf's den.

Within minutes, the wolf came rushing at Francis, its teeth bared.

"Brother wolf," called Francis, "I command you in the name of Jesus, not to harm me."

Instantly, the wolf stopped running and came like a lamb and laid itself down at Francis' feet.

"Brother wolf, you have done great harm by killing God's creatures," said Francis. "But if you now promise to do no further harm to the people of Gubbio, I shall see that they feed you for as long as you live."

The wolf gave Francis its paw to show that it agreed to this arrangement and then followed the little monk back to the city. Amazed by the change which had overcome the wolf, the people of Gubbio agreed to their part of the contract.

So, for two years, the wolf went from door to door in the city, eating scraps which the people left out for it. It never did any more harm to any other animal or human.

When the wolf died, the people of Gubbio were very sad, because it had reminded them of the time Francis had driven fear from their city.