Silent Night | Songs and Everlasting Joy

"Silent Night" was written in 1818 on December 24 in an Austrian village. Joseph Mohr, the assistant priest, was preparing for the Christmas Eve service and realised the organ was not working. He wanted some music for the program, so he quickly wrote the lyrics for the carol in German and asked the church organist, Franz Gruber, who lived in a neighbouring village, to create a tune. It was written very quickly and the priest performed it that night at the Christmas Eve service, accompanied by a guitar, himself singing the tenor, Gruber singing the bass and a choir of girls singing at the end of each verse in four part harmony.

The carol was not widespread for many years. An organ repairer heard it sung at the village and took it back to his district. There, it became very popular and was gradually translated and published in hymnals around the world.

It is nearing the time when the world traditionally celebrates the birth of Jesus. Whether you believe in celebrating His birth or not, whether you think it really was this time of year or not, it is a worthy topic to consider at any time of the year.

Long ago, on a night in the town of Bethlehem, a baby was born who gave humanity hope. It was a holy night, a time when heaven reached down to earth. That night, and what it means to us personally, is a topic we should always think about.

Silent 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,
Darkness flies, all is light;
Shepherds hear the angels sing,
"Hallelujah! Hail the King!
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour 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.

Silent night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Hallelujah to our King;
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.