for the love of Him who was born poor, who lived poorly, whom they
affixed naked to the cross, and who was put after His death into another
man's tomb." One must be very dead to self, have great contempt of the
world, and a sincere love of God, to entertain such feelings and carry
them out.

The following day he took a plate, and went begging from door to door,
and sat down in the street to eat. At the first mouthful he took of
this disgusting mess, he felt a nausea in his stomach, which made him
recoil. Animated at the same instant by the love of poverty, he became
ashamed of his weakness, and reproached himself for the feeling; after
which, he ate the remainder without reluctance, and with so much relish,
that he thought he had never eaten a better meal. He also felt an
interior joy and strength in his body, which enabled him to bear with
pleasure, for God's sake, whatever might be most severe or bitter.
After having returned fervent thanks to the Father of the poor, who
had given him so wonderful a taste, he went to the priest and entreated
him to take no further trouble with respect to his nourishment,
"because," he said, "I have found an excellent purveyor, and a very
able cook, who can season his dishes in a superior way." He often used
such jocose expressions, which were as much the effect of the spiritual
joy he felt, as of his natural lively and joyous turn of mind.

Bernardo, vexed in the greatest degree at seeing his son begging and
exposed to the jeers of the public, was inflamed with anger, and either
turned from him when he met him, or cursed him. Francis admitted that
these curses affected him more than any other suffering he endured,
and he hit upon a method of protecting himself. It was to take another
poor and miserable man with him, who should be as a father to him. He
was engaged to bless Francis, making the sign of the cross on him