midnight
Looking up , there was just the blue , blue sky and the steady clouds ; and looking down , there was a steep rock falling away below him to a great depth , with little ferns and flowers clinging to it . In this rocky solitude lived a falcon who became a very dear friend of St. Francis , and for whom he had a great love . It knew the time he liked to rise and pray in the night , and it would come and flap against his hut and wake him at the right time , and then stay near him while he prayed . The Friars were not allowed to come near the spot ; only Brother Leo came with a little bread and water each day , and to join at midnight with St. Francis in the Divine Office . At times St. Francis was very happy , and the joy that fills the Blessed in heaven seemed to glow in his heart , so that he understood the secrets of God ; and wonderful visions he had too . But sometimes he was filled with sorrow and pain and temptation , for the Devil would torment him and try in every way he could to separate the heart of St. Francis from God . One day , after he had had a very wonderful vision , he went with Brother Leo to the little chapel the Friars had made , and , casting himself on the ground before the Altar , he prayed to God to make known to him the mystery which He would teach him -- for he felt there was some mysterious reason why God had made him come up this mountain and dwell apart .