Stille Nacht

Imagine it being just after midnight, December 25, in the small community of Oberndorf, Austria 196 years ago, in the year 1818.  Located near Salzburg, the home of one of the world's greatest composers, Obendorf was in the throes of discontent as this was only a few years following the completion of the Napoleonic wars.  Salzburg would lose its independence, and in its larger region would see the Saalach River be a dividing line between the Bavarian section of Germany, and Austria.  In the appropriately named St. Nicholas Church, the assistant pastor, Father Joseph Mohr, and the choir director, Franz Gruber were singing for the first time the song "Stille Nacht," or as we know it in English, "Silent Night."  This song would become one of the most popular in Christendom although myth and tales surround, but add to, its story.

Silent Night Chapel in Obendorf, Austria (Google images)

The song was created to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we have to think that Bethlehem was not likely very quiet the night Christ was born.  We know that there was no room for Joseph and his very pregnant wife Mary at the Inn, or if your liking goes to a different translation "the place were traveler's lodged."  The owner of this place is unknown and it was either a great act of kindness, or a great act of disdain to place a women in her condition in a barn.  The barn was likely not built out of stone or wood, but probably was a limestone cave, or rock outcropping.  The church of the Nativity is located at a high point, so it may have been a rock outcropping.  At that time even many families lived in caves. Bethlehem was probably not very large in population, making its ability to handle the number of people filing into this community even more difficult.  Besides all the travelers, it would have had soldiers, tax collectors, along with itinerant merchants, and caravans following the mass of humanity.  If the night had been silent, it would have been broken by the cry of a new-born boy then little known, but now highly regarded by Christians today.  This cry would echo off the walls of the limestone cave out to a waiting world.

Birthplace of Jesus, Church of the Nativity (Author photo)

Father Mohr actually had written the words to "Stille Nacht" two years earlier while stationed at the pilgrimage church of Mariapfarr, Austria. His grandfather lived near Mariapfarr, and some believe he first thought of the verses as he made his way to his visit his grandfather from the rectory.  While it is not clear what drove him to write the words it is well established that he wrote this poem while at that small pilgrim outpost, but the world is fortunate that he took his work with him to Oberndorf.

Mariapfarr, Austria (Google images)

Over 2000 years ago, Joseph and Mary would journey to Bethlehem from their home in Nazareth, and then of course their famous trip to Egypt.  The journey to Bethlehem could not have been easy, it is a fair distance south of Nazareth, and the terrain over parts is less than easy to traverse.  It would involve hills and valleys, rocks and more rocks.

Shepherd's Fields Church, Bethlehem.  (Author photo)

It was on Christmas Eve in 1818 that Father Mohr would walk to the teacher--choir master's house hand him his poem, and ask him to write a melody for guitar and accompaniment so that it could be sung at midnight mass.  I am sure Franz Gruber's wife was not too happy of him being assigned this type of chore on such late notice. No one knows why Father Mohr would ask that a melody be created at that point, it could be that he wished a composition to be sung with guitar, rather than the organ.  Others have speculated that a mouse destroyed parts of the organ, so it was not playable, although some say the reports of mouse damage was only popularized in the American press. Whatever, the reason, the two stood in front of he main altar and sung "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" for the first time.  Their composition would impact the world, and become one of the most famous of Christmas carols.

Franz Gruber and Fr. Mohr  (Google images)
Note the names under the images are not correct

The impact of this composition is directly related to those events on that perhaps not so silent, but yet holy night in Bethlehem so very long ago.  Shepherds would quake at the sight of the young baby lying in a manger, swaddled for protection from a cruel world.  Wise men, following a celestial sign, would pay homage to the young child.Of course, we know that while his birth was important it was his message, his death and his resurrection for which Christians are most grateful.  For God sent his only living son.

Shepherd fields cave where shepherds would live (Author photo)

This composition of Mohr and Gruber would be spread to other parts of Germany and Austria by an organ repairman who would obtain a copy of the song while doing work at St. Nicholas church.  The song is thought to have been popularized by two 19th century versions of the Vonn Trapp Family Singers, who would incorporate it into concerts.  During this stage, the melody was adjusted and some words altered, gradually evolving to the carol we know and sing today.  The changes over time also slowed down the song's tempo.  Originally, it was much more spirited.  For some reason people correlate slow with reverent, to the point that some church music is more laborious than a communist funeral dirge.  Gruber would produce a number of various arrangements of his original composition. A score of the tune signed by Mohr was discovered in 1995.  Analysis puts the date of the discovered copy to between 1820 and 1825, so it was likely a copy of the original, and Mohr appropriately placed a date of 1816--to recognize his original composition.  In the upper right corner Mohr would write:  "Melodie von Fr. Xav Gruber." The song is believed to have had its first English translation of the first few verses by Episcopalian John Freeman Young.  If one were to read the BBC account, you think it was Young, and not Mohr, who should receive the most credit.  So goes the world of English dominance giving credit to an interpreter rather than the original composer.

St Nicholas Church, rebuilt in 1913 (Google image)
Original was destroyed in a flood

It would take time for the world to recognize the impact of the birth of the baby which the carol honors.  Christ may have been born on that one night so long ago, but his church would take years to get a foothold, and many more to see it spread through the world.  Christ's message was first spread by the apostles.  Although most of them would stay within the bounds of the Roman Empire, at least one, Thomas, would move beyond and travel to the Indian Subcontinent.

Church of the Nativity, Manger Square (Author photo)

"Silent Night" has been popular with both Catholic and Protestant congregations, and its rise in popularity may be due to it being favored by the protestant Prussian ruler William IV.  The third line in English, " 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child" was not in the original German instead it seemingly better translates to "Just the faithful and holy pair." This part of Europe was in a time of transition, and Father Mohr and places he had served were adjusting to territory transfers.  Let us look at the wrote the fourth stanza, which in part reads:  "...Brought the world peace tonight, from the heavens' golden height Shows the grace of his holy might...."  Mohr was writing about peace being brought to the world.  Peace is a concept, often relegated to second place in a competitive world.

1820's version of Silent Night in Mohr's hand (Google images)

Christ was born into an occupied territory, although with some semblance of local control, yet still under the domain of the Roman Empire.  Jesus would spend his life within the bounds of the Middle East, a region of the world still in strife.  On the one hand it is ironic that the Prince of Peace would be born in a region so continually torn, but on the other hand perhaps it is fitting as no region on earth needs to strive more for peace.  Christ is the Savior, at least for us Christians, but the world is still occupied by humans who are frail and subject to varied thoughts and temptations.  Christ was born in an unassuming manner to unassuming parents. In this he bears some resemblance to Father Mohr, a man who was born and died in poverty. A man who gave what he had to assist the less fortunate.  He was Francis before their was Pope Francis. The author of the words for this carol was contested until the finding of his copy in 1995.  As much as the English revere John Young, they probably woudl wish to give him the credit.  Austria would finally realize the significance of this song writer. One commentator, notes the meaning of this song, when he wrote about the seeming insignificance of Fr. Mohr:

Perhaps this is part of the miracle of "Silent Night."  The words flowed from the imagination of a modest curate.  The music composed by a musician who was not known outside his village.  There was no celebrity to sign at its world premiere  yet its powerful message of peace has crossed all borders and language barriers, conquering hearts of people everywhere.  (Egan, Bill)

Moon over Bethlehem (Author photo)

The words of Fr. Mohr should occupy our thoughts, as peace begins with each of us.  100 years ago, during the Great War, the German army started to sing "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!" only to hear British soldiers join their singing, The Germans and British would leave their trenches to introduce one act of kindness amid the madness of war; this act would never be repeated during that conflict. The Christmas Truce would not be repeated. The song, sung in the trenches of the Great War 100 years ago was only a catalyst to spread forth an idea of peace.  Peace is perhaps most often thought about this one day a year, but needs to be with us everyday.  We need not be king, president, or pope to bring peace into the world.  The message of this song is that peace begins with each and every one of us.  Simple small acts of kindness can help in a lonely, busy, tired world.  Jesus would preach a message of faith, hope, love and peace.  It is up to us to put those words into action.

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!