Exquisitely embellished in gold, imbued with the vibrant palette of the Renaissance, and painstakingly rendered on bass wood panels, Brother Wolf embraces the spirit of its time. An old wolf terrorizes the villagers of Gubbio-until Saint Francis brings about a peace between man and animal. This inspiring and favorite legend is richly illuminated and lovingly depicted by a new artist of great talent. A storyteller's ear informs a tale whose gentle message of spirituality and the brotherhood of all living things will strike a resonant chord. Those familiar with art history will delight in finding images which quote famous paintings; all others will simply delight.

This lovely retelling of one of the lesser known tales of the Saint Francis's lessons centers on the legend of the great wolf of Gubbio, a ferocious canine who terrorized the town and was slowly reducing it to penury and starvation. In nearby Assisi, Brother Francis heard of their plight and came to their rescue. Unbelievingly, the villagers watched from the ramparts as Brother Francis called to the wolf, tamed it with his tenderness, and made it pledge that if the people of Gubbio would care for it, he would do them no harm. He took the pledge and lived in harmony with the citizens of the city until his death.

The story of St. Francis of Assisi, who rejected his wealthy background to lead a life of poverty, good works, and kindness to animals.

The story of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who rejects his wealthy background to lead a life of poverty, good works, and kindness to animals, told as though spoken by the saint himself.

The author of the bestselling celebration of discipline explores the great traditions of Christian spirituality and their role in spiritual renewal today. In this landmark work, Foster examines the "streams of living water" –– the six dimensions of faith and practice that define Christian tradition. He lifts up the enduring character of each tradition and shows how a variety of practices, from individual study and retreat to disciplines of service and community, are all essential elements of growth and maturity. Foster examines the unique contributions of each of these traditions and offers as examples the inspiring stories of faithful people whose lives defined each of these "streams."