31 Days of Christmas – Day #24

Silent Night

On December 24, 1818, in the little village of Oberndorf, Austria, the whole town was preparing to come to the Christmas service, the highlight of the season. But the parish priest, Father Joseph Mohr, was worried. The chapel organ was broken, and because of the heavy snowfall, the repairman from the next town could not get there to fix it. The service would be devoid of the beloved Christmas music.
For months he had been wanting to write a new song to express the simplicity and holiness of Christmas, but the words had eluded him. That night, as he sat at his desk pondering what to do about the music, he saw someone struggling through the deep snow, coming toward his cabin. He heard a knock at his door.
As he opened it, a woman stood at his door, explaining that a family from over the mountain had asked that he come to their home that night to bless their first child who had just been born.
Bundling up, the priest started out through the snow and, after several hours of walking, came to the couple’s cabin and the most beautiful scene he’d ever laid eyes on. There was the new mother in her bed smiling, as she and the father were looking in the little wooden crib beside the bed that held their newborn son.
Father Mohr admired the baby and blessed him and his parents. Then as he trudged home through the silent snow, he thought of the little family and how much it was like the scene in Bethlehem centuries before on that first Christmas night.
The words to a song began to flow as joy filled Mohr’s heart, and as soon as he arrived home, he wrote them down. That very morning, he asked his friend Franz Gruber to compose the tune to the song. That evening, “Silent Night” was heard for the very first time by the little congregation at Oberndorf — with Gruber accompanying on his guitar as both men sang. Originally written for 2 voices and a guitar, the carol has become the most popular Christmas hymn in Europe and in America.

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!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly 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.