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In the winter time, however, when the nights are longer, the Vigils,
which are celebrated every week on the evening at the commencing the
Sabbath, are arranged by the elders in the monasteries to last till the
fourth cock-crowing, for this reason, viz., that after the watch through
the whole night they may, by resting their bodies for the remaining time of
nearly two hours, avoid flagging through drowsiness the whole day long, and
be content with repose for this short time instead of resting the whole
night. And it is proper for us, too, to observe this with the utmost care,
that we may be content with the sleep which is allowed us after the office
of Vigils up to daybreak,--i.e., till the Mattin Psalms,--and afterwards
spend the whole day in work and necessary duties, lest through weariness
from the Vigils, and feebleness, we might be forced to take by day the
sleep which we cut off from the night, and so be thought not to have cut
short our bodily rest so much as to have changed our time for repose and
nightly retirement. For our feeble flesh could not possibly be defrauded of
the whole night's rest and yet keep its vigour unshaken throughout the
following day without sleepiness of mind and heaviness of spirit, as it
will be hindered rather than helped by this unless after Vigils are over it
enjoys a short slumber. And, therefore, if, as we have suggested, at least
an hour's sleep is snatched before daybreak, we shall save all the hours of
Vigils which we have spent all through the night in prayer, granting to
nature what is due to it, and having no necessity of taking back by day
what we have cut off from the night. For a man will certainly have to give
up everything to this flesh if he tries, not in a rational manner to
withhold a part only, but to refuse the whole, and (to speak candidly) is
anxious to cut off not what is superfluous but what is necessary. Wherefore
Vigils have to be made up for with greater interest if they are prolonged
with ill- considered and unreasonable length till daybreak. And so they
divide them into an office in three parts, that by this variety the effort
may be distributed and the exhaustion of the body relieved by some
agreeable relaxation. For when standing they have sung three Psalms
antiphonally, after this, sitting on the ground or in very low stalls,
one of them repeats three Psalms, while the rest respond, each Psalm being
assigned to one of the brethren, who succeed each other in turn; and to
these they add three lessons while still sitting quietly. And so, by
lessening their bodily exertion, they manage to observe their Vigils with
greater attention of mind.
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