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Saint Francis & Brother Wolf
 
Francis lived from around 1181 to 1226 A.D. He came from a rich family but annoyed his father by giving money to the poor and re-building ruined churches.
He gave away his money and lived on what others gave him. He founded the order of monks now known as the Franciscans.
He spoke to birds & animals and preached t them like he did to people, telling them to thank God for all the good things in their lives.
Another story tells us that in the city of Gubbio there was a wolf “terrifying and ferocious, who devoured men as well as animals.” Francis went up into the hills to find the wolf. Soon fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, but the saint pressed on and when he found the wolf he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at the feet of St. Francis. “Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil…” said Francis. “All these people accuse you and curse you…But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people.” Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens he made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger” the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly, and in return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. In this manner Gubbio was freed from the menace of the predator. Francis, ever the lover of animals, even made a pact on behalf of the town dogs, that they would not bother the wolf again.
Francis was made the patron saint of animals. If you ever go to Gubbio, look out for the monuments to Saint Francis and to the wolf.
 
 
Francis also seems to have made the first Nativity scene to celebrate Christ's birth - with a live donkey and an ox and a real manger (animal food trough).  He wanted everyone to remember that Jesus was born in a stable, not a palace.