Have you ever thought that on one night you could save a thousand souls? This book dares you to try! Have you ever felt really present at Calvary, united to Mary, as you assisted at Mass? This book will surely take you there! Have you ever understood the Message of Fatima from personal experience, from personal repa­ ration? This book will give you that experience! “No Rosary we ever said in our lives was as meaningful as that led by John Haffert at an all night vigil,” said Dorothy Murarescu, leader of the all night vigil movement in Philadelphia. As a result, he was called to help at all night vigils all over the East...and finally responded by writing this book. Oyïflht Of J2oue % by John M. Haffert This is a book about night vigils begun by Our Lord (see page 23), to help turn back the tide of evil. They are nights of conversion and grace. (Original printing, 1966, with Imprimatur of Bishop George W. Ahr, S.T.D., Bishop of Trenton) Revised Edition Printed In the United States In 1997 by: The 101 Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 151 Asbury, New Jersey 08802 Phone: 908-689 8792 Fax: 908-689 1957 © Mr. John M. Haffert, 1966 & 1997 ISBN # 1-890137-02-2 This Night of Love is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world. Ofifht O f JZoeve Table of Contents Page Part 1. Chapter: 1) A TJiousand Souls 1- 2) What Is The Greatest Benefit? 10. 3) A Night To Save The World 13. 4) Vigil Wonders 16. 5) Why Friday? Why Saturday? 20. 6) The Lord Began It! 23. 7) Suggested Programs And Guidelines 27. 8) Is Anyone Listening? 34. Part 2. All Night Vigil Meditations On The Rosary 37. Sorrowful Mysteries 41. Joyful Mysteries 54. Glorious Mysteries 68. Part 3. Alternative Programs And Prayers 82. Stations Of The Cross 88. Liturgical Night Prayers 96. Litany Of The Sacred Heart 104. Prayers From Scripture 109. Processions 116. Litany Of The Blessed Virgin Mary 144. Special Vigil In Honor Of God The Father 150. Additional Vigil Suggestions 158. 1. Ofighi O f jCwe Chapter 1. A THOUSAND SOULS Have you ever thought that during one night you could save a thousand souls? It became a common belief among vigil groups (for a reason soon to be explained) that for every person making an all night vigil, a thousand souls, who would otherwise be lost, would receive the grace of final contrition. At the first all night vigil to be held in New York City in May of 1969, Father Armand Dasseville, O.F.M. Cap., who at first may have thought this belief an exaggeration, exclaimed at the close of that first vigil at St. John’s Church (next to Madison Square Garden in New York) to some two hundred tired but spritually invigorated vigllers: “f feel indeed that for everyone who made this vigil tonight, a thousand souls were saved." Twenty-five years and 300 all night vigils later, at the special 25th anniversary vigil in 1984 he said: “If the Lord were to speak from the monstrance tonight He would most likely paraphrase what He once said to the centurion: “I have not found such faith in so long a time!” Cardinal O’Connor, the Archbishop of New York, was the special speaker at that golden jubilee vigil at St. John’s. His Eminence said to the persevering vigllers: “When the apostles went out on their first mission, they were very excited about the miracles they could work. But they were frustrated that they couldn’t drive out certain demons. Our Lord told them, ‘this particular demon can only be driven out with prayer and fasting.’ That is the secret the vigllers realize, and the Church owes all of you a great debt...not only the Church in New York, but the universal Church." 2. Spread of Vigil in City Seemed Impossible Yet not one church In New York, of the several contacted, would even consider having a vigil back in the decade of the sixties. “Who would come? Who would risk being out in the city at night and going home in the early hours of the morning? Who would provide security?” Does th^t sound familiar? Finally one church had the courage to begin. It was St. John’s, a church then scheduled for demolition! The results were amazing. The very first night there were over 200 vigilers. Month after month the numbers did not diminish but gradually increased! The once moribund parish came alive. The church was renewed and enlarged. And little by little other churches began to hold vigils, including the most famous of all, St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “The vigils are called A Night of Love," said Fr. Armand at the jubilee vigil at St. John's. “It is a night of prayer honoring the Two Hearts. The secular world naturally laughs and scoffs but the all night vigil was in fact inspired by God. The Old and New Testaments are replete with examples of night vigilers.” Example o f Our Lord How often we read that Our Lord "spent the night in prayer.” The most famous night is the one before He died when He took three apostles aside with Him, called to them, awakened them. Could they not watch with Him? In the five volumes of the life of Our Lord by Maria Valtorta one reads again and again that Our Lord, after giving the day to the world, often spent the entire night in prayer. One especially poignant example only a few weeks before His Passion was after Judas refused to change. As all were retiring for the night He said to the much tempted apostle: “I will not sleep tonight. I will pray and wait for you.” If the about-to-be traitor would but come to Him during that night, he would be saved. Without calling 3. the attention of the others, He held back His Mother saying: “I am staying to pray for Judas. Mother, will You help me?" The Sacred Hearts prayed together as the moon crossed the sky and set, the first crowing of a rooster was heard, and then another, and gradually came the gray light of dawn. But Judas had not come. Jesus looked at His Mother and said: “You are pale, Mother. Great is Your fatigue...God will make use of our prayer. " Almost at that very moment an old woman came out of a nearby house. She had been very helpful to Our Lord and the apostles in a hostile area. Greeting her, Jesus said: “May the Lord reward you.” She answered that she wanted no reward but there was one thing she would ask: That her husband would change. Although Judas had not responded, Jesus said at once to the good woman: “Go In peace. It will be done to you as you wish." And her husband had the grace of conversion. God does not force anyone’s will. Judas became the traitor after refusing the graces poured out to him. But the all night vigil of Our Lord and His dear Mother was far from in vain. Indeed, only in Heaven will we know how many souls received the grace of conversion because of that one night of prayer. Our Lord asked His Mother to join Him. For the salvation of many souls He asks US to unite our hearts to Her Immaculate Heart. Blessed by John XXHI The vigil movement was given great impetus at Fatima in 1960 when the Bishop of Fatima invited bishops around the world to participate in a vigil either at Fatima or in their own dioceses. Some three hundred bishops responded and elicited from Pope John XXIII, who participated in Rome, a cabled blessing: “To all who particpated in the all night vigil at Fatima, and to all united with them in other parts o f the world. " 4. St. John’s, in the very heart of Manhattan, became the first to take the risk of holding a vigil in New York City. And little by little other churches followed. And thus it has been around the world for the last four decades of the twentieth century. Who would have thought that thousands of lay persons would give up a night’s sleep, even though many would have to work the following day, to spend a night to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus in union with the ft eart of Mary? Who would have thought that with virtually no urging from the pulpit these multitudes would seek out churches holding these vigils? Cardinal Heenan of London (Archbishop of Westminster) said: “Until now it has been left to enclosed monks and nuns to watch and pray for the Church and the world. It is a sign of the awakening interest of the laity that ordinary men and women are now sharing the contemplation and the vigils." His Eminence continued: “It is not difficult for Religious (monks and nuns) to arrange to spend a night in prayer. Lay people, and especially married people, must disrupt their lives to spend a night in prayer. They must be careful not to disrupt other members of the family...I wholeheartedly bless the self-sacrificing apostolate of the all night vigil.” Archbishop Thomas Pearson, S.M., said: “My own impression of All Night Vigils is that it is a work of a very high order, especially suited to the needs of our day...a generous act of continuous prayer and penance...a response to the invitation of Our Lady, unalloyed with any mixed motives and a powerful antidote to selfish materialism.” There is no natural explanation for such unselfishness, such spiritual generosity at a time when Satan would seem to be more than ever the Prince of this world.