Silent Night is one of the most famous songs ever written. In fact, it’s officially considered a national treasure in Austria. But the origins of Silent Night are surprisingly humble.
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
It was on a Christmas Eve night in 1818 that a young priest named Josef Mohr ventured out into the cold. As the legend goes, Mohr climbed a hill overlooking the little town of Oberndorf in western Austria. While gazing down upon the houses, illuminated by flickering candlelight behind panes of frosted glass, Mohr recalled the words to a poem he first began writing several years before.
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Midnight was only a few hours away.
In another part of Oberndorf, Franz Gruber, the local church organist, had a problem. As the legend goes, his organ had been damaged by mice. Since it was his job to provide music for the church’s Midnight Mass, the night probably didn’t seem calm and bright to him.
Then came a knock on his door.
It was the priest, Josef Mohr. He showed Gruber the words he had penned, then asked if Gruber could compose a simple melody to go with it. A melody, Mohr requested, that he could play on his favorite instrument, the guitar.
Gruber sat down at his desk, took out his quill and manuscript paper, and composed a tune world-renowned for its beauty and simplicity.
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Gruber and Mohr performed the song together that night at the Midnight Mass.
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight;
A few weeks later, a repairman came to Oberndorf to fix Gruber’s organ. After he finished, Gruber sat at the bench and played the song he had composed. Touched, the repairman asked if he could take a copy with him. From there, it was picked up by traveling choirs who spread it into every German city. Eventually, the song made it all the way to the throne of the Prussian king, Wilhelm IV, who declared it his favorite carol.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah!
Gruber continued working as an organist, composing several arrangements of Silent Night for organ and orchestra. He also wrote other carols, many of which are still sung in Austria today. Josef Mohr, meanwhile, moved from town to town, frequently donating his salary to charity. Before he died, he even set up a fund enabling poor children to attend school.
Christ, the Savior, is born,
Christ, the Savior, is born!
I’ve always loved Silent Night, but I think I love it even more after learning the song’s history. While it’s impossible to know exactly what happened – some historians cast doubt on the idea that Gruber’s organ was damaged by mice, for example – one thing is clear: Silent Night is a simple song, with a simple melody, composed under humble circumstances for the citizens of a small town to enjoy. Given the song’s subject, this seems fitting.
I also love what this story teaches about Christmas itself. Christmas is about many things to many people. For some it’s about bright lights, decorations, presents, vacations or grand celebrations. It’s also wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends. However, ultimately to me, it’s about celebrating and contemplating that humble night that forever changed my life and the world.
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.
From all of us here at Wealth Advisors, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas…and a peaceful, silent night of your own to enjoy.
