Frequently Asked Questions
What if
I cannot stay up all night, should I still go?
Is the Vigil the same as Eucharistic Adoration?
We already
have 24-7 Eucharistic Adoration so how would the Vigil fit into this?
We don't
have Eucharistic Adoration so how would the Vigil fit into this?
Why is the Vigil so Late?
What
if I cannot stay up all night, should I still go?
Absolutely! The Vigil is not a lock-down. You do NOT have to stay all night if you are unable to, however, it is best if you can. Some come for an hour in the middle of the night; some come for the first three hours; some come for that last hour or two; and some stay all-night or nearly all-night.
It
is really up to you as to what you are able to do. Better to go for only
one hour than not at all. Our Lord and our Blessed Mother will be pleased
with any amount of time that you can give them.
Is the
Vigil the same as Eucharistic Adoration?
No.
However, they are similar. Eucharistic Adoration is adoring Jesus alone in
a quiet atmosphere. The Vigil is a time to come together to pray as a
community with the Blessed Sacrament exposed for a particular purpose in
mine. In this case, to pray to an end to a culture of death and usher in a
culture of life. That is why we pray for life, marriage, family and
priests/vocations/religious. During the Vigil, however, there are pockets
of time for quiet adoration and reflection, but the main purpose is the communal
prayer.
We already have 24-7 Eucharistic Adoration so how would the Vigil fit into this?
The Vigil does not replace nor compete with adoration. In fact, it enhances it. Sometimes, adoration programs can get into a lull and need a spiritual boost. The vigil can be a means of re-engerizing a Eucharistic Adoration program because it draws new people from surrounding parishes and within the parish.
The Vigil is only once a month and it is a time whereby we come together in community prayer and it is a special time of devotion. Outside the Vigil is traditional quiet adoration prayer. Both are needed because both serve its own unique purposes.
Furthermore, the Blessed Mother and Our Lord want these Vigils to start in as many places as possible.
Finally,
with the infrastructure of Eucharistic Adoration already in place, it makes
implementing a powerhouse Vigil all the more easier.
We don't have 24-7 Eucharistic Adoration so how would the Vigil fit into this?
A powerhouse Vigil is a great way to start in a church where there is no adoration. Once the Vigil is in place, it is not hard to build Eucharistic Adoration around it. The Vigil will inspire those who have never adored before to now come and adore. With more people adoring, you will then be able to expand your program by incorporating traditional Eucharistic Adoration.
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Why
is the Vigil so late?
Some may
ask why so late? Mass at 10 pm,
prayers at 3 am, Benediction at 6:45 am.
It’s in the mystery of the cross and sacrifice where the treasure and
fruit lie which leads to one’s own sanctification and the transformation of
our culture. Jesus’ sacrifice and
suffering on the cross brought about the redemption of mankind.
Our Lady of Fatima calls for
penance, penance, penance. Wouldn’t
you say the staying up late is good penance?
We also
pray at this time to imitate Jesus who prayed
late into the night in the Garden of Gesthemine.
Jesus
spent the night in prayer before every important decision or endeavor.
Some examples: when he was
about to begin his public ministry; when he was about to select the twelve
apostles who would later lead the Church; and the night before His Passion, he
prayed in the Garden of Gethsemine.
The
characteristics of the prayer of Jesus was typically frequent, at night, alone,
intense, and lengthy.
Furthermore,
it is a time when most people are available and do not have work or family
obligations inhibiting them from attending.