O Holy Night

December 15, 2019 (Sunday)

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.

O HOLY NIGHT
Words by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure
Music by Adolphe Charles Adams
1847
O holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name

Click here to listen to Josh Groban (and view the Christmas story)