Silent Night

The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The music to Silent Night was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time!

Silent Night, in addition to being the most popular Christmas carol around the world, is also the song that stopped a war. On Christmas Eve during World War I, German soldiers in the trenches held up Christmas trees lit with candles and a few of the soldiers began singing Silent Night.  Soon others along the German line joined in and then the British soldiers recognizing the melody joined them in the singing of this beautiful song. Soldiers from both sides left the trenches and met in the middle and some of them even exchanged gifts. An undeclared truce began and there was no more fighting for the remainder of the night. There was "Peace on Earth" for that one night in history.

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