A True Story

The Story of Silent Night

Father Joseph Mohr sat at the old organ. His fingers stretched over the keys, forming the notes of a chord. He took a deep breath and pressed down. Nothing. He lifted his fingers and tried again. Silence echoed through the church.

Father Joseph shook his head. It was no use. The pipes were rusted, the bellows mildewed. The organ had been wheezing and growing quieter for months, and Father Joseph had been hoping it would hold together until the organ builder arrived to repair it in the spring. But now, on December 23, 1818, the organ had finally given out. St. Nicholas Church would have no music for Christmas.

©2006 Publications International, Ltd

    

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Father Joseph took a walk up a mountain path. He looked out over the Austrian Alps. Stars shone above in the still and silent night.
Silent night? Father Joseph stopped. Of course! "Silent Night!" He had written a poem a few years before, when he had first become a priest, and he had given it that very title. "Silent Night."
Father Joseph scrambled down the mountain. Suddenly he knew how to bring music to the church.
The next morning, Father Joseph set out on another walk. This time he carried his poem. He was going to see his friend Franz Gruber, the organist for St. Nicholas, who lived in the next village.
It was Christmas Eve, and that night Father Joseph and Franz Gruber stood at the front of the church. Father Joseph was holding his guitar. The people had never heard a guitar played in church before.

Father Joseph and Franz Gruber began to sing. Their two voices rang out, joined by the church choir on the chorus. Together they sang the words of Father Joseph’s poem and the melody of Franz Gruber's music.
When the last notes faded into the night, the congregation remained still for a moment, then began to clap their hands. Applause filled the church. The villagers of Oberndorf loved the song!

Today, people all over the world sing this simple song that was first played in a mountain church in Austria on Christmas Eve nearly 200 years ago.

"Silent Night" Lyrics
1. 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.
2. Silent night, Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Hallelujah,
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.
3. 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.