“Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht”

In many churches I’ve attended it is a tradition to close the Christmas Eve service by singing “Silent Night.” This carol was written and first sung in Oberndorf, Austria.¹

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!

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

–

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.

While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6-7

–

¹Silent Night, Wikipedia.
Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, Photograph by Gakuro. (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Video: Phillip Sear, pianist; Gustav Lange: ‘Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht’, Op. 232.

Choose a category to read: