GUINEFORT;  THE DOG WHO BECAME A SAINT

By Peter Vuono

     In the year 1350, in the small town of Chatillon-Sur-Chalarone which is  North of Lyon, there lived in a castle a wealthy knight with his infant son, his wife, a chamber maid and his loyal Greyhound, Guinefort.

The name Guinefort was derived from the German "Wini" for friend and  the French word "fort" for strong, or "Strong Friend". One day the knight decided to go hunting and left his son in the care of the chambermaid and Guinefort. The maid left the baby to do household errands and as she did a poinsonous viper entered the room. 

  Immediately, Guinefort sprang into action and tore the snake into pieces. The violent struggle knocked over the baby's crib. Although he was unharmed, his presence was obfuscated by the crib. Blood was everywhere.

  When the knight retuned, he saw the results of the conflict but did not see his child. As Guinefort received his master, the knight could see how bloody his jaws were. Thinking that his noble greyhound devoured his son, the knight went into a rage.He drew his sword and killed the dog.

  Immediately after, the knight heard his son cry and became overcome with grief when he realized his fatal error. Incredibly distraught, the knight carried the body of his loyal friend to the well. He covered it with stones and planted a tree in front to memorialize his friend.

  When word got out of Guinefort's valor, peasants flocked the shrine to pay homage. In 13th century Europe, the rules of canonization in the Catholic Church were not strict and the town's people declared Guinefort a "Saint". He would be made the patron saint of children and hundreds of patrons from all over Europe would visit.

   When Rome got wind of it, they sent a Dominican inquisitor- Stephen of Bourbon- to investigate. After Stephen documented on paper all the events that led to Guinefort's sainthood, he declared that Guinefort could not be deemed a saint. He burned the greyhound's remains and cut down the tree. He then threatened fines to worshipers.

  This all backfired. Stephen's manuscript was copied and published all over Europe. Patrons would continue to worship the shrine for another 650 years even until 1970! The rules of canonization are now clearer where the proposed saint must have an incontrovertible miracle attached to him or her.

  Archeologists have explained that the dog has been in a partnership with man in harmony and friendship for over 12,000 years where the Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens converged. The tale of Guinefort 13,350 years later is one of the greatest pieces of evidence that this bond only got stronger.

  This noble friend's tale simply reinforces what we dog lovers already know; that love, loyalty, protection and companionship between us and our dogs enduringly prevails 675 years later and will continue to do so in the heart of man.

"ONE DAY WE WILL SEE OUR ANIMALS AGAIN IN THE ETERNITY OF CHRIST.PARADISE IS OPEN TO ALL OF GOD'S CREATURES"-  POPE FRANCIS