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Praying at night | The lost art of Catholic vigils.

Praying at night | The lost art of Catholic vigils.

Excerpt from Chastity: The Angelic Virtue 

Chapter from Thomas a Kempis’ conferences given to his novices:

“Simon, sleepest thou?  Could you not watch one hour with Me?  Watch ye, and pray: that you enter not into temptation. (Mark. iv. 37)  This voice, beloved brethren, is the voice of the heavenly King and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Who urges His soldiers to watch in the camp against the temptations of the devil.  What therefore the Lord watchfully addresses to blessed Peter and the other disciples: this also undoubtedly He says to us all.  Therefore, when the sacristan comes round at midnight and arouses us: let us be wakeful at once at the sound of the bell: and make ourselves ready by devout prayers to enter the choir: and hasten to meet the heavenly Bridegroom with burning torches.

Let us endeavour, dearly beloved, manfully to cast off the sloth of the body: and sleepiness from our eyes.  Let us lift up our hands to Heaven, to praise our Creator with joyous voices and pure minds: lest perchance the most cunning enemy prevail against us.  It is a very bad habit of some, who in the dormitory or in bed lie long awake idly dreaming: and in the church and in choir slumber for lack of devotion.  These often harm themselves and others: they neither serve Christ manfully: nor pray faithfully for benefactors and the afflicted. 

O silly brother of the race of sleepers and of the number of the foolish virgins, whose lamps, we read, went out in the night.  Arise, watch, pray: sing, read, toil.  Let not the mourning of the damned depart from thy eyes, the fearful clamour of the demons: the most grievous banishment from the presence of God and the joyous fellowship of the saints. 

I tell thee that long vigils, long lessons, the daily Hours, silence, toil, and fast make a short Purgatory: and bring great joy.  It is strange that thou dost so easily feel weariness in the choir chanting or reading: and dost not grow weary with long conversing, or hearing news of the world.  Understand that this is the work of the devil: who strives in every way to hinder the divine worship: and to draw thee away from the church and the gathering of them that sing psalms."

Photo credit: Our Lady of Clear Creek Abbey

 

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