Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent Night was heard for the first time on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria. The young parish priest, Father Joseph Mohr had written the lyrics two years previously in 1816 while in his father's hometown where he had worked as an assistant.

The music was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, a schoolmaster and an organist from a nearby village. Sometime before Christmas Eve, Joseph Mohr brought the lyrics to Franz Gruber, asking him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service. Both of them performed the carol during Mass on Christmas Eve.

*Interesting bit of history... Silent Night was sung in unison in French, German, and English by troops during the Christmas truce of 1914 during WWI. It was the only carol that soldiers on both sides of the front line knew.*

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,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior 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,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!