The hymn reminds us of how this world was in sin and error until Christ came and a new and glorious morn broke for mankind. It shares how the King of Kings lay in a lowly manger, born to be our Friend and Savior. It reminds us of how He taught us to love one another. Truly His law is love and His gospel is peace. It is an old carol. The words and lyrics of the old carol were written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. Cappeau was a wine seller by trade but was asked by the parish priest to write a poem for Christmas, even though he had never showed any interest in religion He obliged and wrote the beautiful words of the hymn. He then realized that it should have music to accompany the words and he approached his friend Adolphe Charles Adams (1803-1856) who agreed and the music for the poem was composed by Adams. The carol was later translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight (1812-1893), giving us this powerful carol which has been sung for years.
And so at this Christmas season may we claim the closing words of the final verse, "Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, with all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim!
1. 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 Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
2. Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
3. Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Listen to it here. HOLY NIGHT
3 comments:
I, too, miss that beautiful kind of Christmas Eve worship service in that order.
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjgm46FjFRo at 5:20 for Barbara Hendricks and Boston Pops.
Great blog. Thanks for all the work to get it done. Please make one correction on "O Holy Night." You wrote: "It shares how the King of Kings lay in a lowly manger, born to be our Fiend and Savior." Change "Fiend" to "Friend" -- typing error, easily done.
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