Let these things suffice concerning the authority and antiquity of the holy vigils. It remains that, according to our promise, we set forth some things about their usefulness; although their very usefulness can be felt by practice more than narrated by a speaker's speech. For by tasting it appears that the Lord is sweet (Ps. 34:9). He, therefore, who has tasted, understands and feels how much corruption is laid aside by watching, how great a stupor of mind is shaken off, how great a light illumines the soul of one watching and praying, what grace, what holy visitation gladdens all the members of the watcher.
By watching all fear is shut out, confidence is born, the flesh is mortified, vices waste away, chastity is strengthened, folly yields, prudence draws near, the mind is sharpened, error is blunted, the devil, the head of crimes, is wounded by the sword of the spirit. What is more necessary than this usefulness, what more advantageous than these holy gains, what more pleasant than this delight, what more blessed than this felicity? With the prophet also as witness, who, describing the blessed man at the beginning of his Psalms, placed the sum of his blessedness in this verse, saying: If he meditate on the law of the Lord day and night (Ps. 1:2). Good indeed is daytime meditation, good is prayer, but far more pleasing and effective is nocturnal meditation;
because through the day diverse necessities clamour, occupations break down the mind, manifold care scatters the senses: but the night is secluded, the night is quiet and opportune for those who pray, most fitting for those who watch, while it sets the whole man, freed from carnal occupations, with collected senses, before the divine gaze. Therefore know that vigils are pleasing to God for the celebrating of his blessing. Only, most illustrious ones, let him who watches with his eyes watch also with his heart; let him who prays with his spirit pray also with his mind; for it is not very useful to watch with the eyes and to slumber in the soul, since on the contrary Scripture says in the person of the Church: I sleep, and my heart watcheth (Cant. 5:2).
Care must also be taken above all things lest the breasts of our watchers be overloaded by excess of food or drink, lest, belching forth indigestion and surfeit, we be not only unpleasant to ourselves, but even be judged unworthy of the grace of the Holy Spirit. For a certain man, eminent among shepherds, has said: As smoke, he intimates, drives away bees, so undigested belching turns away and casts off the charisms of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as those about to celebrate a divine mystery, we ought to prepare ourselves beforehand by abstinence, that whole and unencumbered we may be able to watch: let evil thought also be driven off, lest the prayer of those who watch ill become, as it is read, unto sin (Ps. 108:7). For there are also from the malicious accursed vigils, as is read in Proverbs:
For sleep is taken away from their eyes. For they sleep not, it says, unless they have done evil (Prov. 4:16). But let such vigils be far, and far away from this assembly; but rather let the breast of those who watch, closed to the devil, be open to Christ, so that what we speak with our lips we may hold in our heart. Then will our vigils be acceptable before God, then a saving night-watching, if with fitting diligence and sincere devotion our ministry be offered to the divine sight. Let these things said about the authority and antiquity, and likewise about the holy usefulness of vigils, suffice.
But concerning the devotion of hymns and psalms, how pleasing and acceptable they are to God, I would now have said however little, were it not that a more extended treatment would require another volume: which, by the Lord's bounty, will be set forth in the following reading.