June 4 -- Feast of Saint Petroc

One of the most likable things about the early saints of western Britain is their special relationships with animals. Another very likable thing is the absence of focus on either hellfire sermons or doctrinal disputes.

Saint Petroc is a great example. Raised by a Welsh king but educated in Ireland, he returned to Britain to preach, settling in Cornwall. After predicting a quick end to a rain shower (it rained for three days), he went on a pilgrimage as penance for presuming to predict God's will. He traveled to Rome, the Holy Land, and India -- when he returned, he brought with him a wolf that he picked up somewhere along the way.

One day, while he was praying, an ill-tempered dragon showed up outside his cell. Petroc kept praying and the dragon kept pacing and snarling. Petroc prayed for three days, the dragon snorting all the while. Finally, Petroc went outside and noticed that the dragon had a splinter in his eye. Ignoring Matthew 7:3, he removed the splinter and healed the eye. Then he explained that the dragon shouldn't hang around anymore as the locals were afraid of him. The dragon obligingly departed.

One another occasion, the local king named Teudar filled a pit with serpents and worms. His plan was to throw capital convicts in there so they'd die terrifyingly painful deaths (see: deterrent justice). A good plan, if the hungry serpents and worms did not turn on each other for dinner while waiting for thieves and murderers. Eventually, they devoured themselves down to one huge serpent that promptly came out of the pit to find Cornish game farmers to eat. Again, Petroc explained to the serpent that it was no longer welcome in that region, and the serpent departed promptly.

Yet another incident reinforces the power of compassion for animals. A stag, closely pursued by a pack of huntsmen, ran to Petroc for shelter. Petroc hid the stag under his cloak. Picture it -- how hidden is a ten-point buck wearing a little Welsh priest's coat? The hunting party wasn't fooled. The leader, a local king named Constantine, raised his arm to hit Petroc, but instantly the arm dropped, numb and paralyzed. The arm was healed once the king and his men asked for forgiveness and accepted baptism.

Petroc's relics (bones) had fascinating adventures of their own. In fact, the stories of the bones are certainly more historically documented and credible than the stories of Petroc himself. But they are not as gentle and sweet as the story of this kindly little Welsh priest, accompanied by a wolf, keeping the peace between the wild animals and the Cornish people.