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Line 1: − A '''Vigil''' is a period of night watchfulness or vigilance in keeping awake and alert, either voluntarily or involuntarily. It may extend through only a part of the night, or through the entire night or period of darkness as dictated by necessity or according to custom or assigned duty. − Students frequently keep an all night vigil dedicated to intense studying before an important day of exams (examination exercises) the next morning which will determine their academic standing for the subsequent period or term or year. − − An important event is often the occasion of a sleepless vigil the night before: for example, a wedding, an ordination, a trial in court; or the achieving of a long-desired goal. − − [[Responsibility|Responsible]] and conscientious [[veterinarian]]s and managers and owners/trainers of [[livestock]] keep vigil with injured and sick animals, and with those about to give birth. − − Family members at the bedside of a sick or dying relative often keep vigil around the clock together with medical and nursing personnel. − − Communities often distressed by injustice, violence and crime hold vigils in response to grief, outrage or mourning over a tragedy, and as demonstrations of public protest and expressions of community solidarity with victims and their families, often lasting through the night, and sometimes for days around the clock. Some faith groups regularly, even continually, post vigils near and around [[Abortion facilities|abortion clinics]]. − − Combat personnel and civilians facing the certain and immanent approach of deadly danger to come on them in the morning, and prisoners scheduled for execution, involuntarily keep a wakeful vigil all through the night in fearful anticipation of death. − − In military and nautical terms a regular vigil is called a '''watch''', as for example a ''night-watch'' or sentry-posting for security against intrusion or attack. [[Prison]]s assign [[suicide]] watch to prevent condemned prisoners from attempting suicide to escape execution or life-sentences without parole. Hospital, police and security personnel frequently refer to the regular posting or assignment to the night shift as the "graveyard shift", normally eight hours of duty. − − In ancient times there were four night watches of ''vigilance'': − ::first watch (1800-2100 hrs) during the first through the third hours of the night − ::second watch (2100-0000 hrs) during the fourth through the sixth hours of the night − ::third watch (0000-0300 hrs) during the seventh through the ninth hours of the night − ::fourth watch (0300-0600 hrs) during the tenth through the twelfth hours of the night − The first watch normally began at sunset and the last watch normally ended at sunrise. − − In modern times military vigils of readiness often precede special [[operation]]s against [[Terrorism|insurgent]]s. − − In religion a vigil is undertaken as an exercise of devotion or is assigned or voluntarily undertaken as a [[penance]]. − − The first mention of a vigil in the Bible is the night of the [[Passover]], when the Israelites departed from Egypt during the night with a mixed group of foreigners. (Exodus 12:29-42){{cquote|'''It ''is'' a night to be much observed unto the L<small>ORD</small> for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this ''is'' that night of the L<small>ORD</small> to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.''' Exodus 12:42 (KJV)}} − Other translations render the phrase as "a night of vigil unto the Lord". − − The traditional duty of disciples of Jewish Rabbis on the night of the [[Pesach|''pasch'']] was to make certain their teacher remained awake through the night. − − In [[the Gospels]] Jesus tells his disciples in the [[Garden of Gethsemane]] on the night of the Passover to "remain here and keep watch", but they failed to do so (Matthew 26:38-45; Mark 14:34-41). The Jewish tradition of the ''paschal'' vigil is the reason the Sanhedrin was awake when Jesus was arrested and remained awake all night long (Luke 22:54-71). − − Christian tradition also observes a vigil of prayer and worship beginning the Saturday evening and night before Easter Sunday morning in particular, as well as other [[Liturgy|liturgical]] vigils assigned as special observances throughout the Church year. Christian monks and hermits, and knights through the [[Middle Ages]] kept vigil the night before taking their final [[vow]]s or receiving from the sovereign the ''accolade'' (knighting), or before setting forth on some great mission or task. − − [[Saint]]s and [[Mysticism|mystics]] in a variety of religious traditions often voluntarily keep long vigils for the purpose of self-denial of the body, and to seek visions of transcendent reality or personal experiences and revelations of God. The [[India|Indian]] prince [[Siddhartha Gautama|Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha]] in his search for enlightenment had [[fasting|fasted]] and kept extended vigils to such an extreme over a period of years that his spine was visible through the skin in the front of his abdomen. He reached the conclusion that such severe methods do not bring one closer to spiritual freedom or enlightenment. − − St. Paul cautioned against such practices in his letter to the [https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Colossians%202%3A23 Colossians (2:23)]. He himself frequently kept vigils of prayer for the church ([https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/2Corinthians%2011%3A27 2 Corinthians 11:27 "''sleepless''", "''watchings''"]). − − ==External links== − − [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vigil Vigil - Merriam-Webster Dictionary (merriam-webster.com)] − − [http://www.dictionary.com/browse/vigil Vigil - Dictionary.com] − − [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/vigil Vigil - Vocabulary.com] − − [http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/vigil Vigil synonyms and antonyms (thesaurus.com)] − − [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Orders_for_Sentries General Orders for Sentries - Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)] − − [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_forces Special Forces - Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)] ''This article includes reliable links to authorized sites and sources''. − − [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Vigil Vigil - 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica (en.wikisource.org)] − − [http://biblehub.com/topical/v/vigil.htm Vigil: Topical Bible (biblehub.com)] − − [http://www.seedofabraham.net/ThePassoverCeremony.html The Passover Ceremony (seedofabraham.net)] ''The article discusses staying awake all night''. − − [https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Passover Passover - Encyclopedia of the Bible (biblegateway.com)] ''A detailed article in depth.'' − − [http://www.avoiceinthewilderness.org/festbook/sermon232.html The Passover Night - Sermon 232 (avoiceinthewilderness.org)] − − [http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/193436.pdf Keeping Vigil (baylor.edu)] − − [http://www.knight-medieval.com/knight-castle-medieval-articles/the-ceremony-of-knighthood.htm The Ceremony of Knighthood (knight-medieval.com)] − − [http://www.acatholic.org/easter-vigil-reflection/ Easter Vigil Reflection, Laura Kazlas (acatholic.org)] − − [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05647a.htm Eve of a Feast (Vigil) - Catholic Encyclopedia (newadvent.org)] − − [https://www.gci.org/church/holidays/easter Should Christians celebrate Easter? (Grace Church International) (gci.org)] ''Celebrations rooted in pagan religion''. − − [http://www.puritans.net/news/vigil042007.htm Candlelight Vigils (puritans.net)] "...the early Christian church seems to have avoided things like candlelight vigils, but over time the Romish Church has embraced them." − − [[category:Dictionary]] − [[category:Psychology]] − [[category:Medicine]] − [[category:Military]] − [[category:History]] − [[category:Judaism]] − [[category:Christianity]] − [[category:Religion]] − [[category:Spirituality]]
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