Indeed there are men who censure these things, but they are estranged from the catholic faith and from religion. Yet it is no wonder. For how can religious things please the impious and profane? If such things pleased them, they would be ours—that is, Christians, which we are. But if those whom the saving act of holy vigils offends are indeed ours, then—that I may suspect nothing worse of them—they are either slothful, or drowsy, or aged, or infirm. If they are slothful, let them blush; for the Proverbs of Solomon sound forth at them: Go to the ant, O sluggard, and emulate her ways (Prov. 6:6). If they are drowsy, let them awake, as Scripture proclaims: O sluggard, how long wilt thou sleep? When wilt thou rise out of thy sleep?
You will sleep a little, sit a little, slumber a little; for a little while you will fold your arms over your breast. Then poverty will come upon you like a wayfarer, and want like a swift runner (Prov. 6:9-11). But if they are old, who compels them to keep watch? Although even uncompelled they ought to watch on account of their very age, and to pray to the Lord God the more earnestly. They ought therefore to keep watch sitting, if they cannot prevail to stand. But if they are infirm in their limbs—what they themselves cannot do, let them not blame: nay rather, according to the prophet, let them water their couch with tears, and say: Thus was I mindful of thee upon my bed (Ps. 62:7).
Let them also commend themselves to those who watch, that they may aid them by their prayers, so that, aided by the Lord, they may sometimes be counted worthy to sing upon their bed of pain, saying: In the mornings I will meditate on thee, O Lord, for thou hast become my helper (Ps. 62:7,8). Otherwise it is foolish, and quite alien to religion, that, because we ourselves are not able to run, we should disparage those who run well; for though we cannot, we ought not to envy but to congratulate those who are able. For just as he who consents to wickedness is a partaker of the punishment, so a participation in glory is to be hoped for from consent to goodness. For some are crowned by affection, others gladdened by a pious will.
Nor truly ought it to seem burdensome or difficult, even to delicate or infirm bodies, to set aside some portion for God's service in the two nights of the week—that is, of the Sabbath and of the Lord's day: for this is, as it were, a purification of the five days or nights in which we grow heavy with carnal torpor, or, beset by worldly affairs, rejoice. Nor let any one blush in the good zeal of holiness, since the wicked do not blush in perpetrating the work of foulness. Rightly, therefore, does Scripture say in Proverbs: There is a shame that bringeth sin (Ecclus. 4:25). For to be confounded in a good work is sin, just as not to be confounded in evildoing is destruction. If you are holy, love the vigils;
so that, guarding your treasure by watching, you yourselves may be kept in holiness. If you are sinners, run the more, that by watching and praying to God you may be cleansed; that, beating your breasts more frequently, you may cry to the Lord with your whole heart, saying: Cleanse me from my hidden faults, O Lord, and from those of others spare thy servant (Ps. 18:13). For those who desire to be cleansed from hidden faults—I know not whether it delights them to be defiled by those same miseries.