The Story of Silent Night
“So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
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The year was 1818. The organ of St. Nicolas Church in Oberndorf, Austria was broken and would not be able to be used in the Christmas Eve service.
We’re not sure - this could just be a legend - but there is some evidence that suggests that mice had eaten through some of the bellows of the old organ. We don’t know. Others have said that it was simply an old organ whose pipes were rusty, worn out, and badly in need of repair.
Whatever the case, the village church – known for its fabulous sacred concerts, especially at Christmastime – would have to do without the organ for its annual Christmas Eve Service. Long made plans had to be radically altered, and quickly!
Two years earlier in 1816, Joseph Mohr, the village priest is said to have gotten a call late one wintry evening a few days before Christmas to visit a young family who had just given birth to a child. He had to trudge several miles through the thick Austrian snow to visit the couple and their newborn baby. On the way home the new fallen snow and bright shining stars above gave a Christmas card beauty to the idyllic Bavarian landscape.
After reflecting on the tranquil beauty of the scene he had just witnessed, Joseph Mohr began to pen the words to a poem… “Stille Nacht, heiliga Nacht!” or “Silent Night, Holy Night!” A few have suggested that he stayed up all night after returning home that evening to write this beautifully touching, yet simple poem. Again, we’re not quite sure. This too could be legend.
Back to 1818 and the broken organ… What would they do? The whole village and the simply folk of the entire countryside looked forward to the magnificent music of St. Nicholas Church each year. The people were poor and had fallen on hard times. They would be sorely disappointed. Christmas should be a time of hope and rejoicing.
Mohr shared his poem that had been tucked away for two years with his friend, Franz Gruber, the church organist of St. Nicholas Church. He immediate began to set the text to music using a simple, lyrical melody.
That night, at the Midnight Christmas Eve Service, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber sang a duet on the Silent Night in their native German language accompanied very simply by a guitar. Later the choir joined in as well.
That was the first time the world heard what has become the most favorite Christmas carol of all time, Silent Night. So many lives have been touched by this simple carol.
In the Civil War and again in 1914 during World War I, we’re told that opposing army troops sang this carol at midnight on Christmas Eve. It is a hymn of peace. It is a carol of hope. It is a song of abiding joy. It stirs the heart to praise the Newborn King of kings in a gentle, tender way.
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright
‘Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight.
Glory streams from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.”
Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Silent night, holy night, wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
May Christ’s presence and peace be with you this Christmas and beyond!
You are loved!
Mark
R. Mark Green
Pastor to Senior Adults and Youth & Children's Music