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In 1824, in a small village in northern Italy, a nine-year-old boy dreamt that he was standing in a field, surrounded by a crowd of other young boys who were playing and shouting, pouring their energy into their activity. Not far away, he saw another group of boys fighting each other, yelling and cursing the whole time.
Because he was a naturally energetic and somewhat reckless boy, he charged into this group, yelling for them to stop. They ignored him, and so in frustration, he tried to beat all of them into submission. Naturally, all the boys turned and laid into him with their fists.
Suddenly, a tall, noble-looking man dressed in shining white came toward them. Everyone stopped. “You’ll never help these boys by beating them,” he told the lad. “Be kind and gentle. Lead them and teach them how evil sin is and how desirable virtue is. Then they will become your friends.”
Confused, the boy asked, “Who are you? Why are you telling me such impossible things?” But the man gave a cryptic answer and disappeared. The boys around him immediately changed into a pack of wolves. They were growling and snapping at each other…
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