Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Silent Night


I feel it only appropriate that for my final post on Christmas Eve to share my feelings about "Silent Night."  This has long been a favorite of mine because is gentle, spiritual, and gets right at the heart of Christmas.

My sister pointed out to me something amazing about the lyrics in the third verse a few years ago.  I've always sung it imagining the punctuation as such:

"Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God loves pure light."

But that's not how it's written. It's:

"Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light"

Do you see the difference?  It's not that Christ loves the light.  He is the Light.  This was such a remarkable discovery for me and made me love the song even more.
I hope your Christmas are filled with joy, and family, and friendship, and peace.  Merry Christmas!


"Silent Night"


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;
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, 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.

Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848;
trans. by John F. Young, 1820-1885
Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863

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