O Holy Night

O Holy Night conveys the Majestic Glory of the Christmas Story reflecting the Night of Jesus’ Birth in Luke 2.
O Holy Night highlights the reason why we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem - David, Israel’s greatest king, was also born there.
The Birth of Jesus is the most glorious in history.
"He is the Savior of the world" (John 4:42) Who leads us to Salvation.
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11)

Placide Cappeau

The fascinating story of O Holy Night, ("Minuit, chretien" in original edition, or "Cantique de Noël") is one of the most beloved Christmas Carols that reflects the Birth of Jesus and the Redemption of humanity.
The story began in France and eventually made its way around the world.
O Holy Night by wine merchant, poet, avowed atheist and socialist, Placide Cappeau (1808–1877) was written in 1843 after being approached by the local parish priest to pen a song for the coming Christmas Mass to celebrate singing it along with the church's new organ
Cappeau later said he wrote the poem "Minuit, chrétiens" in a stagecoach while traveling to Paris, between Mâcon and Dijon using the Gospel of Luke as his guide and his imagination of being present at the Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem to inspire him to write the poem.

Adolphe Charles Adams

The other surprising fact is that Placide Cappeau then approached his good friend Adolphe Charles Adams (1803 – 1856), a Jewish composer, to put the words to music.
As a Jew, the words of "Cantique de Noel" represented for Adolphe, a day (Christmas) he did not celebrate and a Child he did not believe was the Son of God.
"Minuit, Chrétien, c'est l'heure solennelle" (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour) is the first line that composer Adolphe Adam set to music in 1847 and went on to weave an original score to Cappeau's beautiful words which pleased both the poet and the priest.
"Cantique de Noel" (O Holy Night) premiered in Roquemaure (town, 12 kilometres north of Avignon on the right bank of the Rhône) in 1847 by the famous opera singer, Emily Laurey during the Christmas Mass.
Initially, "Cantique de Noel" was wholeheartedly accepted by the Catholic church and quickly came to be one of the most beloved Christmas songs in France.
But when Placide Cappeau became a part of the Socialist movement and the conservative, church leaders discovered that Adolphe Adams was a Jew, the song was suddenly denounced.
The French people however, loved the song as a Christmas favorite and continued to sing it in their churches.

John Sullivan Dwight

O Holy Night
American Abolitionist
Later, an American writer brought it to a new audience halfway around the world with the English version (with small changes to the initial melody).
In 1855 the song was translated from French to English by John Sullivan Dwight (May 13, 1813 – September 5, 1893), an American writer and ardent abolishonist who was moved by the wonderful lyrics of the third verse that reflected his view of slavery in the South “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease.”
Dwight published his translation of the song in his magazine and "O Holy Night" and quickly became a favorite in America, especially in the North during the Civil War (1860 -1865).

Franco-Prussian War (1871)

O Holy Night
Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of intense fighting between the armies of France and Germany, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly walked out of his muddy trench and boldly lifted his eyes to the heavens and sang "Cantique de Noel."
A German infantryman then followed by climbing out his trench and sang, Martin Luther's "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come."
The fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas Day.

Reginald Fessenden

O Holy Night
(Christmas Eve - 1906)
On Christmas Eve, 1906, 33-year old Canadian professor, inventor and former chief chemist for American inventor, Thomas Edison, Reginald Fessenden (October 6, 1866 – July 22, 1932), an early pioneer of radio, on December 21, 1906, broadcast the first two-way radiotelegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean of Handel's Largo (aria composed by George Frideric Handel in 1732), followed by his own voice reading of the Gospel of Luke over the airwaves: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”
At that historic moment, Reginald Fessenden reached across the distances to shocked radio operators on ships, business owners and astonished wireless operators at newspaper offices who were startled by what some believed was a Christmas miracle of an Angel from far away.
After finishing his recitation of the Birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played "O Holy Night," the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves.

O Holy Night

O Holy Night reflects why the Birth of Jesus Christ was truly Divine.
He was conceived by His mother, Mary, through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
He is the Son of God Whose Human and Divine Natures enabled Him to accomplish Miracles, the Great Atonement, and the Resurrection.
The world needed a Savior Who came as the Good Shepherd, to lead His flock to greener pastures.
As the Christmas Carol says, "long lay the world, in sin and error pining. Till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth."
God used an atheist, a Jew and an abolitionist to spread His Message around the world through a beautiful Christmas Carol.
We fall on our knees and worship as we remember that Holy Night when the Son of God was Born in a Humble Stable in Bethlehem surrounded by farm animals.
That First Christmas Day marked the beginning of the Christian Era.
Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the Dead showed that death is not the end but rather, the gateway to everlasting life in God's Heavenly Kingdom.
The Christmas Story is truly at the heart of the Christian celebration of Christmas.
O Holy Night
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Chorus
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;

Chorus
He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King! before him bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Chorus
Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we!
His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!

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