Then Sings My Soul ~ O Holy Night (Day 14)

A Christmas song that never fails to stir my heart is O Holy Night. This rendition is sung beautifully by Josh Groban and when combined with clips from The Nativity Story, it makes me want to fall to my knees before my Savior, the Christ child. When I hear the song I am transported to a stable, in awe.

The song is enough, beautiful and inspired, but the hymn itself has a long and interesting history. Written in France it was later declared unfit for church services, and here in America it became a song embraced by the abolitionist movement. Even so, this hymn has become one of the most loved.

In 1847, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure was commissioned to write a Christmas poem, and he did so. A poem written with the gospel of Luke as his inspiration, and one he soon felt must become a song.

He turned to the musician, Adolphe Charles Adams, to help set his "Cantique de Noel" to music. Although Adolphe was of Jewish heritage and did not celebrate Christmas he recognized the beauty in the poem and wrote the lovely score we know today.

It quickly grew to be very popular and was played in many a mass. Unfortunately, Cappeau left the church to become a Socialist, and the church declared it was devoid of religious depth having been written and composed by a Socialist and a Jew. Although the church no longer supported the piece, it remained part of Christmas celebrations in the homes throughout France.

And perhaps it would have faded away over time, except for a remarkable twist. An American writer, John Sullivan Dwight, discovered the piece in France. And he recognized not only a beautiful song but found the 3rd verse uniquely inspiring and applicable to the abolitionist movement. He published an English translation in a magazine in America and the North quickly came to love the song. Several versions have developed over time, but the song endures.

In France, legend tells that a 24 hour Christmas truce was declared during the Franco-Prussian War beginning with a Frenchman singing this song and a German man responding with the German song by Martin Luther, "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come." [Read about another Christmas truce here.]

Back in Canada. this song had an amazing moment also. On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden, former chemist for Thomas Edison, did something long thought impossible. Fessenden used a new type of generator and spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man's voice was broadcast over the airwaves. The first words spoken and heard across the radio waves was the Christmas account from Luke. For the first time a voice and music came across the radio waves, and listeners were shocked. It must have seemed almost a Christmas miracle to hear a voice where clicks had been, and on Christmas Eve, speaking the Holy Word of God. He followed this reading by playing the violin. He played O Holy Night. And so O Holy Night became the first song ever played on the radio. It is still played and loved today, around the world.

O Holy Night
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!