St. Michael’s Lent with Exodus 90 includes a powerful discipline: rise at 2am Friday morning and make a night vigil, a guided holy hour in union with tens of thousands of men throughout the world. Because it’s unusual, and may sound difficult, you might balk at the idea but Exodus Men have been strongly enthusiastic, with some calling it the best experience of prayer they’ve ever had.
Why?
Rising in the night immediately draws us into undivided silence. Even if we have to fight off some sleepiness, the effort of getting up in the middle of night also prioritizes time with God, showing to what length we’re willing to go to spend intimate time with him.
Jesus himself asks us, “Can you not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40). He said this to his disciples in the Garden on the night of his betrayal. This is why Exodus 90 chose 2am Friday morning as it responds to Jesus’s invitation to pray with him on the night of his Passion, showing him our love and giving stronger resistance to temptation.
St. Francis of Assisi, who initiated the practice of St. Michael’s Lent, frequently made night vigils, praying throughout the night while meditating on the Passion. Many of the saints did likewise, reflecting the power of silent prayer in the night when everyone else is asleep. The word “vigil” comes from the Latin vigilia, which was the name of the night watch when guards took three-hour shifts to keep watch over their cities. In keeping vigil, the monks were inspired by Psalm 119, which spoke of praising the Lord seven times during the time and rising in the middle of the night to continue this praise (see verse 62). Some of the Desert Fathers kept vigil the entire night, praying in watch during this time of greater temptation.
You might wonder if this should be left only for the monks. St. John Chrysostom, however, urged the whole family to rise in the night to praise God:
“The night is not made just for sleep and rest…. Get down on your knees; pray; ask God to be merciful. Nocturnal prayer moves him more. You, man, should act like this, not just leave it to your wife. The house ought continually to be an oratory for husband and wife” (Homily on Acts 26:3).
There is greater power in night prayer because of the sacrifice involved and the fact that we are entering the uninterrupted prayer of the angels.
But how should we actually practice a vigil?
First, it’s important to get out of bed and move to a place dedicated to prayer. You can set up a prayer corner or little altar with an icon of Christ (here is an image you can print), a candle, and the Bible. In the desert, or later in the monastery, the monks would pray the psalms, accepting the words God reveals within them to shape their nightly prayer. If you happen to nod off, just get back up and finish the best you can. You can also visit a local adoration chapel if it’s open all night for a holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament. We have to remember that the whole purpose of the vigil is to show God our love. We are making time for him in an extraordinary way, not doing something hard just to prove our own toughness.
The world might think we’re crazy, but putting God before sleep will lead to an outpouring of grace in our lives. Rising in the night shows how serious we are about prayer and following God’s invitation to keep watch. It may just bring about the breakthrough we need to overcome temptation and the weakness of the flesh.
Join Exodus 90 in living differently this St. Michael’s Lent as we fight back in the great spiritual battle through prayer, asceticism, and fraternity.
