Passing by the Arco della Pace, in Milan, one freezing autumn morning in 1908, Don Guanella heard a coachman who, taking it out on his horse, uttered a barrage of horrendous curses.
Don Luigi approached him and, even though he didn't really need the carriage, he said to him:
- Friend, would you please take me to via Cagnola at number 11?
It didn't seem true to the driver: he made him get on and, with a crack of the whip, started the horse. Don Guanella took a good look at that poorly dressed man, with a worn coat and an old hat: his face clearly said that he must have been fasting for a long time; the carriage was dilapidated and the horse as hungry as its master; an old caparison full of holes and patches protected the poor animal from the cold, which was barely getting by.
As they reached their destination, Don Guanella got out of the carriage and said to the driver:
- Do you want to take the opportunity to get some refreshment? With this cold and humidity there is a real need... And your horse might also like a nice warm drink. Pass.
The driver, embarrassed as he was, was unable to say no and Don Guanella rang the bell next to the door. A nun appeared who was embarrassed to find in front of her that undernourished horse, that mustachioed driver and the smiling face of Don Guanella who said to her:
to refresh yourself a little. We should immediately prepare him a nice hot soup, some bread with cheese and a bottle of wine.
He then called Andreìn Trombetta, a guest of the house who had the donkey in custody, and said to him:
- There's this friend of mine here who could use some refreshment. We should immediately prepare him a nice hot soup, some bread with cheese and a bottle of wine.
He then called Andreìn Trombetta, a guest of the house who was looking after the donkey and told him:
- Andrein; let's prepare a nice bucket of hot drink for that poor horse who is very hungry.
The nun and Andrein were surprised but, without replying, they went to do what they had been told, while the driver and Don Guanella stood around the fire talking. Shortly afterwards the horse had his refreshment and the owner was made to sit at the table in front of a nice soup, a wheel of cheese and a wheel of bread. He had no shortage of appetite and he quickly devoured the soup while the bread and cheese were given a severe lesson. The bottle was given a slow death while the cabman took more and more pleasure in the conversation and the smile returned to his face.
When the snack was over, Don Guanella wrapped up the leftovers and gave them to the coachman who had risen to thank him, in a very different mood from the one he was in when he met his client.
- Dear friend, Don Guanella told him, I realize that hunger is a bad advisor and that it was precisely the one who told you just now to light all those candles, but be careful, otherwise together with your patience and health you will also lose your 'soul.
- You're right, replied the cabman, you're absolutely right and, believe me, I'm not the scoundrel I may have seemed to you. This life has made me pick up a bad habit and I really think I should do everything I can to break it. I promise you and thank you very much for everything.
Don Guanella accompanied him to the door and greeted him.
Having climbed onto the box and taken the road again, the driver met a woman and stopped to ask her:
- But who is that priest who lives in that door? - But don't you know? It is our Don Luigi Guanella, a saint of the Lord!
- Truly, said the cabman, there really is a saint of the Lord there.