My grandfather passed away when I was a young child. He was a firefighter and passed away in the line of duty. I can remember going to the vigil and leaning over the casket. Unsure of what to do, a family member whispered in my ear, telling me to say goodbye and ask God to bless him “for a safe trip to God.” While my family member did not realize it, she summarized in her short whisper the importance of the vigil in the Order of Christian Funerals. The vigil is an opportunity for the family to come together to pray as a community for the person who passed away through intercessory prayer, remember their loved one and share stories and eulogies. Held before the funeral liturgy (Mass), the vigil is the first time family and friends are coming together in communal prayer and remembrance. The Church recommends that the vigil be held “well before” the funeral Mass, which typically and traditionally means at least the night before the liturgy, if not over several days. The vigil is often a time for intercessory prayer, and reciting the rosary is such a traditional part of it that the two are often conflated, with many referring to the vigil as “The Rosary.” The recitation of the rosary is one of the most widely used forms of intercessory prayer to the Blessed Mother. With each Hail Mary, we ask Mary to pray for us now and at the hour of our death, and to intercede for our beloved deceased. While the rosary can certainly be prayed in place of the vigil, there are benefits to having a vigil together with the recitation of the rosary. All of this often takes place during the viewing, during which the family gathers in mutual support to bid farewell to their beloved deceased. There can be an open or closed casket, or the cremated remains may be present for the family to pray before, asking for God’s blessing just like my family member encouraged me to do at my grandfather’s vigil. While the viewing may last several hours, the vigil is a formal time of prayer that often takes place during the viewing. Unfortunately, many are opting to forgo the vigil or place the vigil immediately prior to the Mass, which is often meant to allow more people to attend. While understandable, there are many benefits to having the vigil at least the night before the funeral liturgy. This allows the family to begin the grieving process before the liturgy, providing spiritual and psychological benefits. Whenever possible, we should learn from our Church's centuries of experience and hold the vigil the night before the liturgy. This vigil is a key part of the Order of Christian Funerals and offers the opportunity to fill the void of loss with faith.
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