St. Francis Makes a Pact with Dogs

St. Francis tames a wolf terrorizing the town of Gubbio and makes a pact with dogs to leave him alone.

St. Francis saw all animals as brothers and sisters, and believed they should be treated as equals:

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise with their fellow men. All creatures have the same source as we have. Like us, they derive the life of thought, love, and will from the Creator. Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them; but to stop there is a complete misapprehension of the intentions of Providence. We have a higher mission. God wishes that we should succour them whenever they require it."

According to The Little Flowers of St. Francis, written by Brother Ugolino di Monte Santa Maria in the early 1300s, Francis of Assisi saved the Italian town of Gubbio from a ferocious wolf who was killing livestock and some of the people. The town was unable to kill the wolf so they went to see Francis to ask for his help - they had heard that God talked to him and he could talk to animals.

Francis came to the town and and went out to confront the wolf. The wolf ran up to him with his jaws open and ready to attack. As the wolf came closer, Francis made the sign of the cross and said, "Come hither, brother wolf; I command thee, in the name of Christ, neither to harm me nor anybody else." At that moment, the wolf lowered its head and was as gentle as a lamb.

Francis led the wolf to the town, and because the wolf had killed out of hunger, the townsfolk agreed to feed him and the dogs agreed to leave him alone. Everyone got along peacefully, and when the wolf died of old age two years later, the people of Gubbio mourned his loss greatly.

St. Francis, the Patron Saint of Animals Quote Poster
by inspiring_gifts

Urian: Cardinal Wolsey's Dog Bites Pope Clement VII

The Church of England may never have been established if it wasn't for a greyhound named Urian belonging to Cardinal Wolsey who bit Pope Clement VII.

Pope Clement VII

Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon because she was unable to give him a male heir. He sent Cardinal Wolsey to the Vatican to convince Pope Clement VII to grant him a divorce. According to legend, the Cardinal took his dog Urian with him and when he met with the Pope (as was the custom) he bent down to kiss the Pope's toe. Urian, thinking his master's life was in danger, bit the Pope's foot.

The divorce was not granted. Henry VIII had the archbishop of Canterbury grant the divorce, married Ann Boleyn, broke away from the Catholic church and established the Church of England.

Belferlein: Do Dogs Go to Heaven?

Belferlein (named Tölpel by some accounts), was a Pomeranian who belonged to a famous German theologian and Augustinian priest named Martin Luther - who believed dogs do go to Heaven.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Belferlein was the family farm dog who was often mentioned in Martin Luther's writings. He was well loved by the family, and when he died, Luther's children asked him what happened to their dog now that he had passed away. Luther responded "Even for the brave Belferlein there will once be a place in Heaven."

Most theologians of the time believed animals had no souls and they did not go to Heaven. However, according to Luther, "I believe that the Belfelein and Hündelein go to Heaven and that every creature has an immortal soul." When asked if dogs go to Heaven, he replied "Certainly there will be, for Peter calls that day the time of the restitution of all things. Then, as is clearly said elsewhere, he will create a new Heaven and a new earth. He will also create new Clownies with skin of gold and hair of pearls. There and then God will be all in all. No animal will eat any other. Snakes and toads and other beasts which are poisonous on account of original sin will then be not only innocuous but even pleasing and nice to play with. Why is it that we cannot believe that all things will happen as the Bible says, even in this article of the resurrection? Original sin is at fault."

So do dogs go to Heaven? I believe they do, because Heaven wouldn't be perfect if they didn't.

Guinefort: The Greyhound Who Was Made a Saint

The earliest records of this story come from Stephen of Bourbon, a Roman Catholic Church authority, around the 13th century.

Guinefort belonged to a noble family in a rural region of France. One day the lord and lady left the house, leaving their infant son in the care of their loyal dog. When they returned, they found the cradle turned upside down, the baby missing, and their dog's mouth covered with blood. Thinking the dog devoured his child, the nobleman killed Guinefort in a fit of rage. Moments later, he found his son safe behind the cradle and a dead venomous snake with blood on its body from the dog bites. Realizing his dog saved his child, the nobleman buried him in a well near his castle, covered the body with stones, and planted trees next to the grave in Guinefort's honor.

The story about the brave greyhound spread throughout the region, and the local people named Guinefort a Saint. According to Stephen of Bourbon, "The local peasants hearing of the dog's noble deed and innocent death, began to visit the place and honor the dog as a martyr in quest of help for their sicknesses and other needs." Despite the Roman Catholic church prohibiting the veneration of the dog, the legend of St. Guinefort continued for several centuries.

The Dogs in Saint Patrick's Life

According to St. Patrick's own writings and a bit of mythology, dogs played a big part in his life.

Around 400 AD, 16 year old Patrick was forcibly taken from his home in Briton by Irish marauders, was taken to Ireland where he was sold into slavery, and was forced to work as a shepherd. He spent six years there with little or no company other than a sheepdog and the flock of sheep.

Patrick spent a lot of time talking to God and the sheepdog, and both talked back to him. It was the dog, disguised as an angel in his dream, who told Patrick to escape and board a ship that was over 200 miles away to carry him back home. He did escape, and after a long and exhausting journey, he made it to the ship, a ship carrying a lot of stolen Irish wolfhounds. Patrick's pleas to board the ship were refused, until one man noticed how the giant, frantic and furious dogs calmed down when Patrick arrived. It was decided that he could go, as long as he would help care for the dogs.

Instead of heading to Patrick's home, the ship set sail for the European mainland, where the men could get a high price on the dogs. However, food rations were going fast and the crew ended up abandoning the ship in the middle of nowhere in Gaul (now known as France). The food ran out, and soon everyone was starving. The ship's crew, all pagans, taunted Patrick to ask his God for help. Patrick prayed that night, and the next morning a herd of wild pigs appeared from the forest. The pagans converted to Christianity, and Patrick became a priest.

After about 20 years, Patrick had another dream telling him to return to Ireland. He did, and upon his arrival, he was met by a powerful pagan prince named Dichu who was out hunting with his wolfhound. Dichu commanded his dog to attack Patrick, but when the dog lunged, he stopped in his tracks and licked Patrick's outstretched hand.

According to Irish folklore, St. Patrick repaid all the dogs by allowing the legendary Irish hero Oissain to take them to heaven with him.

How Dogs Inspired St. Patrick Poster
by inspiring_gifts

Grigio: Father Bosco's Guardian Angel

Grigio, described by many as a German shepherd-looking dog, would appear out of nowhere to protect Father Bosco from the anti-clerical factions in Italy during the 19th century.

"Photographic enlargement of the grey wolf defender dog of Don Bosco"

John Bosco (1815-1888), popularly known as Don Bosco, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest - and declared a Saint some 40 years after his death. The good priest devoted his life to helping the disadvantaged youth, and was hated by many evil people who wanted him dead.

One dark evening in 1852 as Father Bosco walked through the deserted streets of Turin, in northern Italy, a big grey dog approached him. At first the priest was scared but quickly realized the dog was friendly as he gently greeted him with a wagging tail. The dog walked alongside Father Bosco and when they arrived at the gate to his home the dog trotted away.

That was the first of many encounters the two had when the priest would walk at night. The dog, who Father Bosco named Grigio (the Italian word for grey), would appear out of nowhere then disappear when the priest safely reached his destination. On two occasions Grigio fought off attackers by knocking them to the ground, and on another occasion the dog's fierce look and savage growls were enough to scare a mob of assailants away.

One night Father Bosco was determined to go out to attend to an urgent matter despite his mother's pleas to stay home. As the priest approached his gate he saw Grigio lying in front of it. He was happy to see the dog thinking he would follow him but Grigio would not budge or let Father Bosco go pass him. The priest's mother told him if he wasn't going to listen to her he should at least listen to the dog, who had more sense than him. Father Bosco stayed and about 15 minutes later he learned that some dangerous men were waiting down the road to kill him.

As long as the persecution lasted, Grigio was there to protect Father Bosco, and when the danger passed he stopped coming. For years Grigio was not seen, until one night in 1866 when the priest went to visit a friend. As he walked down the dark road he remembered a couple of guard dogs were close by and wished Grigio was with him. At once the big grey dog appeared at his side. They headed to his friend's farmhouse and when the two guard dogs came after them Grigio scared them away. They made it to the friend's house safely and Grigio laid in a corner of the room while the priest and his friend dined. Later, when Father Bosco turned around to offer Grigio some food, the dog was no longer there. This time his disappearing act was not just trotting away, he left a home with the door and windows shut. This was the last encounter Father Bosco had with Grigio.

When Father Bosco was asked to give an opinion on the nature of the grey dog "...he admitted that the dog was a creature worthy of note in his life. Although saying that the dog was an angel would have certainly made ​​people laugh, nevertheless he had to admit that he was not a common dog. Don Bosco often thought about the origin of that dog and he admitted that he had been a true gift from Providence."

The top picture is an enlargement of this one. You can see the dog in the lower right corner. -1959

Almost a hundred years after Father Bosco's last encounter with Grigio, a dog fitting the description of Grigio was spotted outside a church where Bosco's casket laid. According to Bro. Renato Celato, the dog somehow managed to get inside the locked church and was crouched under the casket. When the casket was transported to another destination, the dog was seen following the van for several miles before disappearing.

How a Guardian Angel Dog Guarded a Catholic Priest Poster
by inspiring_gifts

St. Roch, The Patron Saint of Dogs

It was the loving care a dog gave that led to St. Roch being named the Patron Saint of Dogs.

Saint Roch was born the only child of a wealthy French nobleman around the 14th century with a red birthmark in the shape of a cross on his chest. At age 20, after the deaths of his mother and father, Roch renounced his nobility and gave his inheritance to the poor. He then went on a pilgrimage to Rome, caring for people who suffered from the plague and miraculously healing many by the sign of the cross.

Roch eventually contracted the disease, and not wanting to infect others he set off into the forest to die. While he lay dying, a hunting dog belonging to a count found him and began to care for him. The dog, who Roch believed was a gift from God, would bring him bread every day and lick his wounds until he made a full recovery. The count, who later discovered what his dog was doing, befriended Roch and let him keep the dog.

Roch, with his dog beside him, returned to France where a civil war was going on. Roch was mistaken as a spy, and instead of revealing his family's nobility he and his dog went to prison. The two spent five years in prison, where Roch died, caring for other prisoners.

After his death, people discovered who he was by the birthmark on his chest. Roch was officially declared a Saint 100 years after his death.

The dog with a loaf of bread in its mouth has become Saint Roch's emblem, appearing beside him in virtually every picture or statue of the saint.

St. Roch, Patron Saint of Dogs Tag
by inspiring_gifts

How St. Roch Became the Patron Saint of Dogs Poster
by inspiring_gifts

Lazarus, the Rich Man and the Compassionate Dogs

According to the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, it was dogs who showed compassion to a poor man when man wouldn't.

"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores." (Luke 16:19-21)

Lazarus, a sick and homeless man covered with sores, laid outside the home of a wealthy man hoping for scraps of food. The rich man who always dined extravagantly never gave Lazarus a bite of food or help of any kind. While Lazarus was ill-treated by man, the dogs showed a kindness to him by licking the wounds on his body to help promote healing and reduce pain.

The moral of the story (after their deaths)...

"Abraham said [to the rich man], Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things [and did not share with others], and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish." (Luke 16:25)

The dogs in this Bible story...

Dogs truly are man's best friend!