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