Difference between revisions of "Vigil"

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==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
 
[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] vigile, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & [[Latin]]; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a feast, from Latin, [[wakefulness]], watch, from vigil [[awake]], watchful; akin to Latin vigēre to be vigorous, vegēre to enliven — more at [[wake]]
 
[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] vigile, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & [[Latin]]; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a feast, from Latin, [[wakefulness]], watch, from vigil [[awake]], watchful; akin to Latin vigēre to be vigorous, vegēre to enliven — more at [[wake]]
*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Century 13th century]
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*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Century 13th century]
 
==Definitions==
 
==Definitions==
 
*1 a : a watch formerly kept on the night before a [[religious]] feast with [[prayer]] or other [[devotions]]  
 
*1 a : a watch formerly kept on the night before a [[religious]] feast with [[prayer]] or other [[devotions]]  
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The term "eve" means that the observance begins on the evening before. In [[traditional]] [[Christianity]], the celebration of liturgical feasts begins on the evening before the holy day because the Early Church continued the [[Jewish]] [[practice]] of beginnnig the day at sunset rather than midnight.
 
The term "eve" means that the observance begins on the evening before. In [[traditional]] [[Christianity]], the celebration of liturgical feasts begins on the evening before the holy day because the Early Church continued the [[Jewish]] [[practice]] of beginnnig the day at sunset rather than midnight.
  
Probably the best known vigil is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Vigil Easter Vigil] held on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Saturday Holy Saturday]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Mass Midnight Mass] held on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve Christmas Eve] is a remnant of this [[practice]].
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Probably the best known vigil is the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Vigil Easter Vigil] held on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Saturday Holy Saturday]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Mass Midnight Mass] held on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve Christmas Eve] is a remnant of this [[practice]].
  
In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Eastern Orthodox Church] an All-Night Vigil (consisting of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vespers Great Vespers], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matins Matins] and the First Hour) is held on the eves of Sundays and all Major Feast Days (such as the Twelve Great Feasts and the Feast Days of important Saints) during the liturgical year.
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In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Eastern Orthodox Church] an All-Night Vigil (consisting of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Vespers Great Vespers], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matins Matins] and the First Hour) is held on the eves of Sundays and all Major Feast Days (such as the Twelve Great Feasts and the Feast Days of important Saints) during the liturgical year.
 
*''Vigils at the time of death''
 
*''Vigils at the time of death''
When a Jew dies, a watch is kept over the [[body]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Psalms Tehillim] are recited constantly, until the [[burial]] service.
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When a Jew dies, a watch is kept over the [[body]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Psalms Tehillim] are recited constantly, until the [[burial]] service.
  
In [[Christianity]], especially the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox Eastern Orthodox] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic Roman Catholic] [[traditions]], a vigil is often held when someone is gravely ill or dying. [[Prayers]] are said and votives are often made. Vigils extend from eventual [[death]] to [[burial]], ritualistically to pray for a loved one, but more practically so they are never alone.
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In [[Christianity]], especially the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox Eastern Orthodox] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic Roman Catholic] [[traditions]], a vigil is often held when someone is gravely ill or dying. [[Prayers]] are said and votives are often made. Vigils extend from eventual [[death]] to [[burial]], ritualistically to pray for a loved one, but more practically so they are never alone.
 
*''Medieval knights''
 
*''Medieval knights''
During the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages], a squire on the night before his knighting [[ceremony]] was expected to take a cleansing bath, fast, make [[confession]], and then hold an all-night vigil of [[prayer]] to [[God]] in the chapel, readying himself for his life as a knight. He would dress in white, which was the [[symbol]] for [[purity]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigil]
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During the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages], a squire on the night before his knighting [[ceremony]] was expected to take a cleansing bath, fast, make [[confession]], and then hold an all-night vigil of [[prayer]] to [[God]] in the chapel, readying himself for his life as a knight. He would dress in white, which was the [[symbol]] for [[purity]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigil]
  
 
[[Category: Religion]]
 
[[Category: Religion]]

Latest revision as of 02:44, 13 December 2020

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Etymology

Middle English vigile, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin vigilia watch on the eve of a feast, from Latin, wakefulness, watch, from vigil awake, watchful; akin to Latin vigēre to be vigorous, vegēre to enliven — more at wake

Definitions

b : the day before a religious feast observed as a day of spiritual preparation
c : evening or nocturnal devotions or prayers —usually used in plural
  • 2 : the act of keeping awake at times when sleep is customary; also : a period of wakefulness
  • 3 : an act or period of watching or surveillance : watch <kept vigil at her bedside>

Description

A vigil (from the Latin vigilia, meaning wakefulness) is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance. The Italian word vigilia has become generalized in this sense and means "eve" (as in on the eve of the war).

  • Eves of religious celebrations

A vigil may be held on the eve of a religious festival (feast days), observed by remaining awake--"watchful"--as a devotional exercise or ritual observance on the eve of a holy day. Such liturgical vigils usually consist of psalms, prayers and hymns, possibly a sermon or readings from the Holy Fathers, and sometimes periods of silent meditation.

The term "eve" means that the observance begins on the evening before. In traditional Christianity, the celebration of liturgical feasts begins on the evening before the holy day because the Early Church continued the Jewish practice of beginnnig the day at sunset rather than midnight.

Probably the best known vigil is the Easter Vigil held on Holy Saturday. The Midnight Mass held on Christmas Eve is a remnant of this practice.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church an All-Night Vigil (consisting of Great Vespers, Matins and the First Hour) is held on the eves of Sundays and all Major Feast Days (such as the Twelve Great Feasts and the Feast Days of important Saints) during the liturgical year.

  • Vigils at the time of death

When a Jew dies, a watch is kept over the body and Tehillim are recited constantly, until the burial service.

In Christianity, especially the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, a vigil is often held when someone is gravely ill or dying. Prayers are said and votives are often made. Vigils extend from eventual death to burial, ritualistically to pray for a loved one, but more practically so they are never alone.

  • Medieval knights

During the Middle Ages, a squire on the night before his knighting ceremony was expected to take a cleansing bath, fast, make confession, and then hold an all-night vigil of prayer to God in the chapel, readying himself for his life as a knight. He would dress in white, which was the symbol for purity.[1]