A story for every day...

Saint Yves (1253-1303), the patron saint of judges and barristers, preferred to defend the rights of the poor and was called «the lawyer of the beggars». One day, while staying at an inn in Tours, the hostess, an elderly widow, told him, with tears in her eyes, that she was to appear before the courts the next day and that she would probably be condemned to pay 1200 ducats, even though she was innocent. This is what had happened: two strangers had stayed with her and had entrusted her with a purse, and she was only to give it to them on the condition that they were both present. One day they came, had dinner at the inn and left; then one of them came back, asked for the purse, and the innkeeper gave it to him. An hour later, the other returned and asked for the purse as well. When he learned that his companion had already received it, he pretended to be in despair, and when the other did not return, he brought a lawsuit against the widow. Saint Yves studied the case and presented himself as the hostess’ defender. The plaintiff asked that the widow be condemned for having violated the contract. Saint Yves replied that the purse was not lost, but that the plaintiff would not receive it until he brought his companion, since according to the contract it was not to be returned until both were present. At this unexpected plea our man saw that he had caught himself in his own trap. Looking for subterfuges, he contradicted himself, and finally he was condemned while the hotel owner was acquitted.

Saint Yves had the gift of good counsel.