Arezzo. San Francesco. Crucifijo del Maestro di San Francesco.
Traditionally the monastic fast begins today.
During the great monastic fast, which lasts from 14 September to Ash Wednesday, except for Sundays and feast days, dinner is an hour later, and supper consists of a glass of wine and a crust of bread ne potus noceat (Carthusian Statutes).
When I stayed with the Carthusians I noticed they also fasted from dairy products from now until Easter. In my experience, the suppers were not as frugal as the statute above indicates. I'm not sure what other monastics do these days. I know Discalced Carmelite nuns observe the monastic fast, I'm not sure what they do however.
I love this feast since it always reminds me of St. Francis and so many Franciscan saints, whose only book was Jesus and him crucified.
History of the Feast of the Exaltation.
To this day the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica’s dedication. The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim. - Read more here.
