Silent Night, Holy Night
Silent Night, Holy Night
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,
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.
Translated by John Freeman Young (1820–1885)
IN THEIR VILLAGE high in the Austrian Alps in 1818, a Catholic priest and his organist faced a dilemma just before Christmas when the church organ broke down. They needed a hymn that could be easily sung by the congregation, even without a booming organ to lead the way.
Joseph Mohr, the priest, took up the challenge and quickly wrote the words for “Silent Night.” He handed them to Franz Grüber, the organist, who said, “You have found it—the right song—God be praised!” Then Grüber wrote a tune that could be effective with guitar accompaniment.
The hymn might have remained an obscure Alpine folk song if it weren’t for the organ repairman. A few days after Christmas, he got a copy of the song and began sharing it with others. Today it is one of the most beloved of all Christmas songs.
[The shepherds] hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished.
Luke 2:16-18
From the book
