sing we now of christmas.

Out of all the musical instruments, which one do you think is the most appropriate for the Christmas season?

I think the harp is nice for Christmas.

A group of carolers went forth to carol. And, as they caroled, some carols were lost on the evening air and simply disappeared in the night. And some fell on stony ears, and as soon as they were heard, they were forgotten. And some were caught up in the general noise of the street, which at times rose up and overpowered them. And other carols went straight to their mark and gladdened the hearts of those who heard them, so that they were hummed and repeated hundreds of times as these persons went about during the Christmas season. Whoever can understand this should give thanks for carols!

–Parables for Christmas by John Killinger

On Christmas Eve in 1818, a certain German priest named Father Joseph Mohr and his organist, Franz Gruber, were struggling to repair their broken organ before the traditional Midnight Mass. After a final hopeless examination of the instrument by Gruber, Mohr set out to make several pastoral visits. On one of these visits, Mohr had the opportunity to bless a new baby. As he was returning to the church, he considered the contrast between this baby and the Christ Child who was born on this same night so many centuries ago. He was suddenly inspired to write a poem entitled “Stille Nacht,” or “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.

At the church, Mohr asked Gruber to compose a melody for the poem. Since Gruber was an organist and the only available instrument was a guitar, Gruber created the melody based on the only three guitar chords that he knew. At midnight, Gruber played the simple chords on the guitar, and the two men sang the beautiful melody for the congregation.

When the organ builder, Karl Mauracher, finally came to repair the broken organ, Gruber played the carol for him. Maraucher took a manuscript of “Stille Nacht” with him and later introduced it to the four Strasser children. They sang the song so beautifully that it became known as “The Song From Heaven.” The Director-General of Music of the Kingdom of Saxony, Mr. Pohlenz, heard the Strassers sing and invited the children to perform for the King and Queen. The carol was further promoted by the translation into English by Reverand John Young Freeman. The song has been a reminder of peace and joy to many people. During the First World War, a truce was called at Christmastime. Across the no-man’s land, British soldiers heard German voices singing “Stille Nacht” and joined in English. “Silent Night” has become one of the most famous Christmas carols because two men were faithful to trust God in the midst of their struggles.