Chapter 8: The Divine Office at Night
During the winter season, that is, from the first of November until Easter, it seems reasonable to arise at the eighth hour of the night. By sleeping until a little past the middle of the night, the brothers can arise with their food fully digested. In the time remaining after Vigils, those who need to learn some of the psalter or readings should study them.
Between Easter and the first of November mentioned above, the time for Vigils should be adjusted so that a very short interval after Vigils will give the monks opportunity to care of nature's needs. Then, at daybreak, Lauds should follow immediately.
At first glance this appears to be one of those "yeah, so what" readings. Certainly it's main concern is the hour of Vigils and what happens after Vigils. In the winter it will be dark longer so fill up the time with study of psalms and readings. In summer, the sun rises much earlier so make sure Vigils is done early enough so the monks can get to the bathroom before the sun rises and Lauds begins. The end. Right? Not quite. What is said above it certainly true, but there are other levels of meaning at work here, which I shall try to pick out without doing too much harm to the text.
First I'm going to lift a story of the desert Father's from Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB. which she herself lifted from the Philokalia.
Once upon a time the disciples asked Abba Agathon, "Amongst all good works, which is the virtue which requires the greatest effort?" Abba Agathon answered, "I think there is no labor greater than that of prayer to God. For every time we want to pray, our enemies, the demons, want to prevent us, for they know that it is only by turning us from prayer that they can hinder our journey. What ever good work a person undertakes, if they persevere in it, they will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath."Prayer is warfare to the last breath. Hmmm. We will return to that thought later.
This chapter is devoted to the hour of Vigils. Before electricity people went to bed when it got dark. If you stayed up much past dark, you were using up valuable resources, such as candles, or lamp oil. If you went to bed at dark, you were going to wake up in the middle of the night, no two ways about it, unless you were one of those lucky few who can sleep fourteen hours at a time.
For us as Lay Cistercians, we are tempted to think, "well, I have to be at work in the morning so I'm not getting up at two or three in the morning for Vigils." Not only is it tempting, it's right to think that, because we are not called to be monks/nuns. We are called, however, to have Vigils, even if that means getting up an hour earlier than we want.
Now to the business of Abbot Agathon telling us that prayer is "warfare to the last breath." Undoubtedly, one of the main things that attracts Lay Cistercians is the fact that the monks/nuns break up the day with a relentless round of prayers. I have heard monks say that the moment you get something going in the groove, the bell rings and you have to stop and go to prayers. There is temptation then to skip the prayers, especially the little hours, and just go on with what you were doing.
Look at Abba Agathon again. "Every time we want to pray, our enemies, the demons, want to prevent us, for they know that it is only by turning us from prayer that they can hinder our journey." So we say, I can't afford to lose my sleep getting up earlier, or, I can't say the little hours in the middle of my work day.
Let me ask you? How long does it take to lean down and tie your shoe? We are taught that the desire to pray, is itself a prayer, so that in the time it takes to lean down and tie your shoe you can turn your mind to God for a moment, say a Hail Mary, or Our Father, and go right on with your work, without anyone knowing that you have done it.
May God bring us altogether to everlasting life. Amen.
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