Why Did St. Francis Walk Toward a Killer Wolf?

A vicious wolf was terrorizing the medieval town of Gubbio. People were afraid to venture beyond the city walls. Then St. Francis of Assisi did something extraordinary: he went out alone to meet it.

According to the famous account preserved in The Little Flowers of St. Francis, the wolf charged toward Francis with its jaws open. Francis made the Sign of the Cross, commanded the animal in the name of Christ—and what happened next became one of the most beloved stories associated with the saint.

But the Wolf of Gubbio is about much more than St. Francis' famous love of animals.

In this episode, Cyndi explores the remarkable story of Francis, the wolf, and the frightened people of Gubbio—and the surprising message Francis preached after peace was restored.

What happened when Francis chose to confront what everyone else feared? And what can this centuries-old story teach us about sin, conversion, mercy, reconciliation, and the peace that comes through Christ?

You'll also hear about the remarkable traditions still preserved in Gubbio today, including the Church of St. Francis of the Peace and the intriguing discovery made there centuries later.

Sometimes the thing we fear cannot simply be destroyed. It must be transformed.