The following is taken from the Little Flowers of St. Francis

In the days when St. Francis was in the city of Gubbio, Italy, a huge wolf, terrible and fierce, appeared in the neighborhood, and not only devoured animals but men also; so that all the citizens went in great fear for their lives. Because the wolf often came close to the city, whenever any of the men went abroad, they armed themselves as if they were going out to battle. Even with these precautions, though, none who met the wolf alone could defend himself. And at last it came to pass that for fear of this wolf no man dared leave the city walls.

Hearing of these troubles, St. Francis had great compassion for the people of Gubbio, and decided to go forth against that wolf, even though the citizens, with one accord, urged him not to go. But he, making the Sign of the most Holy Cross, and putting all his trust in God, set forth from the city with his companions. But, at certain distance from the city, even the Saint's friends feared to go farther with him. So St. Francis went his way alone towards the place where the wolf was. Many of the folk were gathered at a safe distance away in order to see what would happen.

And then, just as the people had feared, the wolf leapt towards St. Francis with gaping jaws; and St. Francis, drawing near, made the Sign of the Cross and called him, saying

"Come here, brother wolf; I command you in the Name of Christ that you do not hurt either me or any man."

Then a wondrous thing happened! No sooner had St. Francis made the Sign of the Holy Cross than the terrible wolf closed his jaws and stopped running. No sooner was the command uttered than he came, gentle as a lamb, and laid himself at the feet of St. Francis. Then St. Francis spoke to him thus,

"Brother wolf, you work much evil in these parts, and have caused grievous harm, destroying and slaying God's creatures without His consent; and not only have you slain and devoured the beasts of the field, but you have dared to destroy and slay men - who are made in the image of God. Therefore you are worthy of death as a most wicked thief and murderer: All folk cry out and murmur against you, and all this city is against you. But, brother wolf, I desire to make peace with them and you, so that you injure them no more; and they shall forgive you all your past offenses, and neither man nor dog shall pursue you any more."

Now when St. Francis had spoken these words, the wolf, moving his body and his tail and his ears, and bowing his head, made signs that he accepted what had been said, and would live accordingly.

Then St. Francis said, "Brother wolf, since it pleases you to make and observe this peace, I promise to obtain for you, so long as you live, a continual nourishment from the men of this city, so that you shall no more suffer hunger, for well I know that you have done all this evil to satisfy your hunger. But after I have won this favor for you, brother wolf, I desire that you promise me not to hurt either man or beast. Do you promise me this?"

And the wolf bowed his head and gave clear signs that he promised these things. And St. Francis said, "Brother wolf, I desire that you pledge your faith to me to keep this promise, so that I may have full trust in you."

And when St. Francis held forth his hand to receive this pledge, the wolf lifted up his right paw and gently laid it in the hand of St. Francis, giving him thereby such token of good faith as he could.

Then St. Francis said, "Brother wolf, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come with me. Fear nothing, and we will go and confirm this peace in the Name of God."

And the wolf, obedient, set forth by his side as if he were a pet lamb. Therefore, when the men of the city beheld this, they marveled greatly. And this miracle was spoken of throughout the whole city. And all folk, great and small, men and women, old and young, flocked to the market-place to see the wolf with St. Francis.

And when all the people were gathered together there, St. Francis stood forth and preached to them, saying, among other things, how that for their sins God had permitted such calamities to befall them, and how the flames of hell which the damned must endure forever were much more perilous than was the ravening of a wolf that could only slay the body. He spoke also of how the jaws of hell were to be feared much more - since entire multitudes would, out of fear of the mouth of a small beast, flee in fear and trembling.

"Turn to God, then, dearest children," he encouraged, "and do fitting penance for your sins, and so shall God free you from the wolf in this world and from eternal fire in the world to come."

And having made an end of his sermon, St. Francis said,"Hark, my brethren. Brother wolf, here before you, has promised and pledged his faith to me never to injure you in anything whatsoever, if you will promise to provide him daily with food. And here I stand, a bondsman for him, that he will faithfully observe this pact of peace."

Then the people with one voice promised to feed him all his days. And St. Francis, before all the people, said to the wolf, "And you, brother wolf, do promise to observe the conditions of this peace before all this people, and that you will injure neither man nor beast nor any living creature?"

And the wolf knelt down and bowed his head, and with gentle movements of tail and body and ears, showed by all possible signs his desire to observe every pact of peace. But St. Francis wanted to make it very clear to everyone there that this once fierce creature would truly honor his word. St. Francis looked earnestly at the wolf.

"I desire, brother wolf, that even as you did pledge your faith to me outside the city gates to hold fast to your promise, so here, before all this people, you shall renew your pledge, and promise you will never betray me, your bondsman."

Then the wolf, lifting up his right paw, placed it in the hand of St. Francis. At this act of the wolf, and the wonders they had already seen, the people could no longer contain themselves. Such marvel and rejoicing broke out among all the people—not only at the strangeness of the miracle, but also because of the peace made with the wolf—that they all began to shout aloud to Heaven, praising and blessing God, Who had sent St. Francis to them, by whose merits they had been freed from the cruel wolf.

In the happy time that followed, this wolf lived in Gubbio, and was accustomed to enter like a tame creature into the houses from door to door, doing hurt to no one and none doing harm to him. And he was kindly fed by the people; and as he went about the city no dog ever barked at him.

At last, after two years, brother wolf died of old age. Everyone grieved at his death, and his gentle and friendly presence was greatly missed throughout the city. The tame wolf had been a wondrous gift to them, a great miracle, and a blessed reminder of their dear St. Francis. Amidst their sorrow, though, the people were grateful for this blessing that God had given them - and would forever keep its memory alive, by passing on - for centuries to follow - the story of St. Francis and the wolf of Gubbio.