24 DECEMBER 2023

 

Silent Night, Holy Night

“Glory to God in the highest.” (Luke 2:14)

Joseph Mohr was a young assistant priest in a small village high in the Austrian Alps. He and his friend, Franz Gruber often discussed church music and they both agreed that the perfect Christmas hymn was still to be written.

On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr walked three kilometres through the cold to Gruber’s home with the words of a poem he had written two years earlier at his previous parish. (He had been inspired to write the poem after contemplating a quiet village in the middle of winter and which was completely at peace.) The Christmas Eve Mass was just a few hours away and he was hopeful his friend could set his words to music in time for the service. A schoolteacher by profession, Gruber was also the choir master and organist of Mohr’s church, and he quickly composed the melody.

A simple tune, the hymn was sung for the first time during the Midnight Mass that night, at the church of Saint Nicholas, Oberndorf, to the accompaniment of a guitar and choir. There have been many stories surrounding the reason behind the writing of this Carol, but the most likely seems to be Mohr just wanted a song he could play on the guitar, his favourite instrument.

Mohr called his song, “Stille Nacht.”

Stille Nacht would have remained in obscurity if not for an organist repairman. A few days after Christmas he was visiting Mohr’s church and after receiving a copy of Mohr’s song, he began sharing it with other people. Its popularity grew and 21 years later it was sung for the first time overseas at Trinity Church in New York City.

It has been translated into over 300 languages and has had a profound impact upon the world, with its emphasis on the peace and grace God offers everyone through His Son, Jesus Christ.

“Silent Night, holy night…Christ the Saviour is born” and like the angels, we rejoice!

May you and your family know the blessing of God’s grace and peace in your lives this Christmas and in the coming year.