Praying


Fourth Watch. (The Morning Watch from 3:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M.). This fourth watch is always important because this is the last watch of the night.

Watches of the Night: The phrase ‘watches of the night’ has been used since at least the Book of Mishna: “watches of the night”: the night-time; watch originally each of the three or four periods of time, during which a watch or guard was kept, into which the night was divided by the Jews and Romans”.

Vigil (liturgy): The Latin term vigilia, from which the word is derived meant a watch night, not necessarily in a military context, and generally reckoned as a fourth part of the night from sunset to sunrise. The four watches or vigils were of varying length in line with the seasonal variation of the length of the night.

Vigil in Latin means A vigil, from the Latin vigilia meaning ‘wakefulness is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance. Check on Vigil.

THE EIGHT PRAYER WATCHES

The key is Matthew 24:43 (you can read whole context Matthew 24).

43 Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into.

Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians:

Colossians 4:2-6 USCCB Prayer and Apostolic Spirit.

2Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;a

3at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,b

4that I may make it clear, as I must speak.

5Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.c

6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.


Please click USCCB Rosary

and EWTN Rosary

English

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Sign of the Cross is made with the right hand by touching the forehead at the word “Father,” the chest at “Son,” and the left and right shoulders at “Holy Spirit.”

Mother Angelica