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“Jesus Christ crucified always rested like a bundle of myrrh in the bosom of Francis's soul, and he longed to be totally transformed into him by the fire of ecstatic love. As a sign of his special devotion to him, Francis spent the time from the feast of the Epiphany through forty successive days-that period when Christ was hidden in the desert-secluded in a lonely place, shut up in a cell, with as little food and drink as possible, fasting, praying and praising God without interruption. He was drawn to Christ with such fervent love, and the Beloved returned such intimate love to him that God's servant always seemed to feel the presence of his Savior before his eyes, as he once intimately revealed to his companions. His very marrow burned with love for the sacrament of the Lord's Body, and he was overcome by wonder at such loving condescension and such condescending love. He received Holy Communion often and so devoutly that he made others devout also, for at the sweet taste of the spotless Lamb he was often rapt in ecstasy as if drunk in the Spirit.”