This Christmas Eve morning, I joyfully told our Sunday School class some of the history of "Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht." "Silent Night" to us.
At St. Nicholas's Church in Oberndorf, Austria, 199 years ago today, Assistant Priest Josef Mohr discovered the organ didn't work. They had to have music for Christmas Eve mass. He walked through the snow to teacher, Franz Xaver Gruber's. Mohr had written a poem two years prior and asked Gruber if he could set it to music in time for Christmas Eve Mass.
Gruber arrived at church early with his guitar and music. He and Father Mohr taught the choir to sing "Stille Nacht" in 4 part harmony. The congregation loved it.
In the spring, the organ-mender came and repaired the organ. Testing it, he played Stille Nacht and memorized it. When he went back to his village, he taught the children to sing it. It was carried to other churches and locations. Today it's known around the world.
Flooding took its toll on the original church. The Stille Nacht Memorial Chapel stands on a mound in its place.
Go to StilleNacht.info for pictures, music and further information. It's a heart-warming read.
Merry Christmas family and friends and may your New Year be filled with many blessings.
Love, Maeann
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