Silent Night

This traditional Christmas carol was originally named “Stille Nacht,” written in German in the early 1800s by Austrian priest Father Josef Mohr. The tune was written specifically for Father Mohr’s words by Franz Gruber, a school teacher and the organist of Mohr’s church.

Here are the words as we know and sing them in English, celebrating the birth of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ:

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

Click here for a beautiful rendition of this Christmas hymn, accompanying a montage of movie clips showing the story of Jesus’ birth.

For more history behind the song, as well as the original German lyrics (plus a literal English translation), visit this Wikipedia page.