“Silent Night” is by far our most popular Christmas carol. First sung in 1818,
the words were written by a young parish priest, Father Joseph Mohr, who
assisted at a small village church in Austria. One wintry evening, he was
called to baptize a newborn baby. Upon his return, the stars reflected their
light on the snow. The child, the peasant couple, and their humble home
reminded him of another Child, another couple, another humble dwelling.
Unable to sleep, he wrote words expressing the scene. The next morning,
he gave the poem to his friend, Franz Gruber, a schoolteacher and organist
in a nearby town, who set the words to music.
Christmas neared, and the church’s organ had been damaged, either by
mice or river floods. Father Mohr despaired until he remembered the carol
he and his friend had composed. Could it be accompanied by guitar? He
persuaded his friend to sing it with him at the Christmas Eve Mass, while
the choir repeated the last two lines of each verse. A feeling of great peace
filled the little church as the congregation listened to the beautiful little
song.
The next day, an organ repairman took the manuscript and gave it to some
traveling folk singers. Soon the carol was sung throughout Germany and other
European countries, and eventually America. Translated into over 300
languages, it was sung in churches, in town squares, and even on the
battlefield during World War I when during a temporary truce on Christmas
Eve, German, and British soldiers joined hearts and voices in the beloved
carol.
Over the years, its origins were hidden in mystery. After the original
manuscript was lost, some speculated that the music had been written by
Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven. Then the king of Prussia became determined
to find the composer. He ordered the Head of Royal Concerts to find the
author. Prussian hymn books had to be in proper order!
Libraries, cities, principalities, and kingdoms of what was then Germany
were scoured, all to no avail. An assistant was sent to Vienna to interview
the most famous musicians there, but no one knew who had written the
song.
While staying at an inn, the assistant noticed a caged bird singing a familiar
song. He leaped to his feet, startled. The song was “Silent Night!” On
learning the bird had been purchased at a nearby abbey, he inquired of the
monks. A schoolteacher there suggested one of the choir boys had taught
the little bird and offered to help find the child. The teacher imitated the
birdsong and, sure enough, a boy ran out of class to welcome his pet.
On questioning, the terrified boy admitted his father had composed the
song, and the mystery was solved. Franz Gruber, the melody’s composer,
identified his friend who had written the lyrics.
Today, the creators of this classic carol are honored throughout Germany. It
was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. Of more
importance is the effect its peaceful lyrics and simple melody bring to our
hearts. As we sing, our spirits kneel before the Bethlehem manger and find
a new and sweet awareness of God’s great love and grace.
Reflect on the closing words of this beloved carol and pray with us:
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
Prayer: Father, this tiny baby born in the humblest of circumstances was
the King of kings and Lord of lords! While we can never fully comprehend
this divine mystery, we bow in wonder and worship Him with all our hearts.