Vigil at the Altar of Repose
The night before he was crucified, Jesus spent several hours in the Garden of Gethsemane in anguished prayer. When his disciples fell asleep, he pled with them to stay awake to pray, asking, “Can you not watch with me one hour?” Remembering this, and as an act of devotion, Christians have traditionally kept vigil throughout the night leading from Maundy Thursday into Good Friday. This vigil is a time to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and to watch and wait while contemplating the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.
We invite you to make this part of your Holy Week by signing up to take an hour of the vigil from 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 28 until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 29. You may also volunteer as a receptionist for part or all of the night.