The glory of the forgotten ‘Silent Night’
View(s):High up in the Austrian Alps was the birthplace of the famous carol Silent Night. There are many versions of the origins of this famous hymn – some of them contradicting each other. However, all traditions agree that it was originally written in German in 1818 by Joseph Mohr, an assistant pastor in St. Nicola Church situated in the remote town of Oberndorf, Austria. Of that we can be certain and definite. Because of physical limitations, Pastor Mohr was never able to be in charge of a local church on his own, but served always as an assistant pastor.
In spite of physical impediments, Joseph Mohr was a devout and dedicated pastor. He had a good friend whose name was Franz Gruber – a village schoolmaster and church organist. They were both great lovers of music, for Austria at that time was famous for her music and art. The two friends often talked of the fact that ‘the perfect carol had not yet been written’. Mohr was in charge of the musical arrangements for the little congregation of their local church.
One day as he made preparations for the advent and nativity of the Lord, he found that he faced a crisis. With only a few days to spare he found that a mouse had meticulously chewed through the leather bellows of the organ and it could not be repaired in time. That evening he sat at home in prayer – meditating on the radiant peace and joy that had been experienced at the first news of the advent and nativity of our Lord.
Outside, the hushed stillness of the evening heightened the snow-clad beauty of the mountain scene. As he prayed and meditated, the thoughts that had been forming and flowing through his heart found poetic expression in his soul – and soon words tumbled onto paper – and Silent Night was born. Rushing the next morning to his good friend, Franz Gruber, he handed him the words of the hymn he had written.
Going over the words carefully and intently, Gruber was thrilled with the beauty and serenity of his friend’s ‘perfect carol’. Sitting down at once, he prayerfully began to compose the melody that would convey the beauty and wonder of the incarnation to all who would hear it. Finally, inspired by God, the quiet, calm, radiant melody we still use, flowed into his soul. Franz was a gifted musician and could play the guitar as well as the organ, and so they sang together in preparation for the service that evening.
That night, December 24, 1818, worshippers in Oberndorf sang Silent Night, Holy Night for the very first time; but the friends were in for a very great disappointment. The senior pastor was outraged that a guitar was used ‘in such a sacred place’, and many of the gathering were quite upset not to have real organ music for their service. Some traditions, however, tell us that there were a few in the congregation who wept as they sang this carol for the first time. Discouraged with the reception their hymn had received, Mohr and Gruber, forgot all about the carol and it was left to collect dust in the organ loft.
Some years later an organ repairman came across the precious manuscript and jubilantly carried it to his own little town across the mountains. It passed from one music-lover to another and was soon used among many congregations and churches until finally, 24 years later in 1842, it was printed for the first time with credits given to the two men who originated it. It is reported that the joy and peace of God never left Pastor Joseph Mohr, even though he died a pauper in 1848 at 56 years of age; for when we labour for His glory, we are never forgotten by Him.
Brian D. Blacker