Vigils are one form of paying attention. They usually are held in a holy place where we focus our mind on some holy event, such as the birth of Christ, his temptations in the wilderness, his transfiguration, or his crucifixion, and engage in meditation, prayer, and self-examination. The practice of vigils or waiting in a holy place with our attention on some holy event or events has the effect of renewing our focus on Christ in the face of many competing desires that pull us in different directions.
— Diogenes Allen, Spiritual Theology