The vigil was . . . the all-night watch sometimes kept by the candidate for knighthood, kneeling before the altar where his sword and armour were laid as a sign that they were to be devoted to Christian service. The lonely night-watch is the ritual acting out of dedication: following in the mythic footsteps of Galahad and Parsifal, the seekers of the Holy Grail, it can be your dedication of yourself to experience the holy in this sacred place.

Jennifer Westwood, On Pilgrimage