Word Finder - vigils

definition

An instance of keeping awake during normal sleeping hours, especially to keep watch or pray.

definition

A period of observation or surveillance at any hour.

example

His dog kept vigil outside the hospital for eight days while he was recovering from an accident.

definition

The eve of a religious festival in which staying awake is part of the ritual devotions.

definition

A quiet demonstration in support of a cause.

example

The protesters kept vigil outside the conference centre in which the party congress was being held.

These vigils are further distinguished as privileged and unprivileged.

The oldest of the vigils is that of Easter Eve, those of Pentecost and Christmas being instituted somewhat later.

The abuses connected with nocturnal vigils 1 led to their being attacked, especially by Vigilentius of Barcelona (c. 400), against whom Jerome fulminated in this as in other matters.

The custom, however, increased, vigils being instituted for the other festivals, including those of saints.

The other vigils are recognized in the calendar (including those of the saints) and the rubric directs that "the collect appointed for any Holy-day that hath a Vigil or Eve, shall be said at the Evening Service next before."

His spiritual nature was high-strung and delicate; and this condition was aggravated by his constant study, his long fasts and his frequent vigils - in one year, according to his diary, he kept sixty fasts and twenty vigils.

On the night of the 8th9th of February 356, however, when the bishop was holding the Vigils, soldiers and police broke into the church of Theonas.

I was called everything under the sun during these vigils and it was there that I was shown bare backsides by some Neanderthals.

The city may be in mourning, but the numerous church services and candlelight vigils help provide some emotional catharsis.

Iranians organized big candle-light vigils for America after September 11, in sympathy!

All Night Vigils for Peace Jane White has offered to arrange all night vigils of prayer at Sacred Heart during the present crisis.

Iranians organized big candle-light vigils for America after September 11, in sympathy !

She told me of the 24-hour vigils for peace held in her local Church of Ireland.

It is worn, too, on the vigils of fasts, Ember Days and days of intercession, on the Feast of Holy Innocents (if on a week-day), at litanies, penitential processions, and at other than solemn benedictions and consecrations.

Advent; the days between Septuagesima and Maundy Thursday; vigils that fall on fast days, and Ember days, except the vigil before Whitsunday (red) and the Ember days in Whitsun week (red).

By this time the truce extended from the Wednesday evening to the Monday morning in every week and also, in most places, lasted during the seasons of Lent and Advent, the three great vigils and feasts of the Blessed Virgin, and those of the twelve apostles and a few other saints.

About 403, some years after his return from the East, Vigilantius wrote his celebrated work against superstitious practices, in which he argued against relic worship, as also against the vigils in the basilicas of the martyrs, then so common, the sending of alms to Jerusalem, the rejection of earthly goods and the attribution of special virtue to the unmarried state, especially in the case of the clergy.

The evens or vigils before Christmas, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Easter day, Ascension day, Pentecost, St Matthias, the Nativity of St John Baptist, St Peter, St James, St Bartholomew, St Matthew, St Simon and St Jude, St Andrew, St Thomas, and All Saints are also recognized as " fast days."

All Night vigils for Peace Jane White has offered to arrange all night vigils of prayer at Sacred Heart during the present crisis.

The uppermost stage was reserved for the deacon who sang the gospel (facing the congregation); for promulgating episcopal edicts; reciting the names inscribed on the diptychs (see Diptych); announcing fasts, vigils and feasts; reading ecclesiastical letters or acts of the martyrs celebrated on that day; announcing new miracles for popular edification, professions by new converts or recantations by heretics; and (for priests and deacons) preaching sermons, - bishops as a general rule preaching from their own throne.