O Holy Night

Without a doubt, the song, “O Holy Night” is one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever heard. How it came into being is quite interesting.
In 1847, a parish priest in France asked one of his parishioners who was not much of a church man, to write a Christmas poem for a special worship service. The parishioner, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure, penned the poem in a coach on the way to Paris. He entitled it, “Cantique de Noel.” Later, he asked a musician, Adolphe Charles Adams, a Jew, to compose music to turn the poem into a song. The hymn was well-received and much beloved in the church. When it was discovered, however, that Cappeau favored Socialism and Adams was a Jew, the hymn was banned in the church. The people, however, had come to love it so much that they continued to sing it. Eventually, an American Unitarian minister translated it into English and introduced it to the United States. It was popular, especially in the North, during the Civil War. The song eventually took on a life of its own, free from any political ties, making its way into the hearts of millions.
The first verse can no doubt be recited by many people who cannot remember all the verses:
O Holy Night
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
You can hear many versions of this wonderful song on You Tube. One of my favorite presentations is by Michael Crawford. Type http://vimeo.com/8429182 into your browser.
All the words of “O Holy Night” can be found by typing the following address into your browser: http://www.findthepower.com/ChristmasPagesTheStoryOfOHolyNight.htm