Keeping Vigil for the Lord

The term “vigil” comes from the Latin word vigilia which means, “a night watch.” It usually meant the fourth part of the night (the way the ancient Romans divided the night) from sunset to sunrise. In the Catholic Church, a Vigil is a time of prayer, usually a Mass, held during the night leading to a feast day. This practice dates back to early Christianity when the faithful would wake up in the middle of the night to pray. 

During the third and fourth centuries, it was very common to hold a vigil in preparation for a feast. The service would begin on the previous night to the feast day and end the next morning. During these vigils, the faithful gathered in the evening at an assigned place or in the church where the celebration would take place. The vigils involved prayers, readings from Sacred Scripture, Psalms, and sermon followed by a Eucharistic service. The vigil was a “preparation” for a more fruitful celebration of the feast.  

Today we still keep that tradition here at St. John. Our principal Christmas Mass was the 12a.m. Midnight Mass we celebrated with beautiful hymns and candlelight. We will celebrate another Midnight Mass at 12a.m. on January 1 for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

These special times of prayer cause us to go out of our way to set aside time for prayer in a way that is deliberately inconvenient. Rather than sleeping, we stay awake and keep watch, giving the time over to the Lord in prayer.

Join us for our special New Year’s Eve Midnight Mass this year! (Our full schedule for New Year’s can be found here on our website.)

December 31, 2021 - New Year’s Eve Adoration and Mass Schedule

8:30a.m.          Daily Mass
9a.m.               Eucharistic Adoration begins
4-5p.m. Confessions
5p.m.               Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Adoration paused during Mass)
6p.m.               Eucharistic Adoration resumes
12a.m. Midnight            Candlelit New Year’s Eve Midnight Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Adoration paused during Mass and resumes overnight after Mass is finished)

January 1, 2022 - New Year’s Day Mass Schedule

9:00a.m. Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
3:30 - 5p.m. Confessions
5:15p.m. Vigil Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord