Tonight I came home to a happy
husband listening to Christmas music; after all it is December 1st. Only 25 more days until Christmas Day! There are few Christmas Carols that are very
special to me; my favorite being, “O Holy Night”.
Carols were first sung in Europe
thousands of years ago, but they weren’t Christmas Carols. They were sung at Winter Solstice
celebrations. The word Carol means dance
or a song of praise and joy. Carols used
to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of
singing them at Christmas survived.
The Christmas Carols I value most
are those about the birth of Jesus.
December 25 is the day Christians celebrate that Jesus was born. Those special Carols bring a feeling of warmth, love, and peace.
“It
came upon a midnight clear,
That
glorious song of old,
From
angels bending near the earth
To
touch their harps of gold;
“Peace
on the earth, good will to men
From
Heaven’s all-gracious King”
The
world in solemn stillness lay
To
hear the angels sing.”
Edmund Hamilton Sears, “Christmas Carol”,
1850.
“I
heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their
old, familiar carols play,
And
wild and sweet
The
words repeat
Of
peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Christmas
Bells,” Flower-de-Luce, 1867.
“O
little town of Bethlehem,
How
still we see thee lie!
Above
thy deep and dreamless sleep
The
silent stars go by.”
Phillips Brooks, “O Little Town of
Bethlehem,” 1868.
As I mentioned earlier my
favorite Carol is “O Holy Night” by Placide Cappeau. Cappeau was a wine merchant and poet, who was
asked to write a Christmas poem, written in French. The poem reflects on the
birth of Jesus and of mankind’s redemption.
John Sullivan Dwight created a singing edition of which we are most
familiar with.
Literal
English Translation:
“Midnight,
Christian, it is the solemn hour,
When
God-man descended to us
To
erase the stain of original sin
And
to end the wrath of His Father.
The
entire world thrills with hope
On
this night that gives it a Savior.
People
Kneel down, wait for your deliverance.
Christmas,
Christmas, here is the Redeemer,
Christmas,
Christmas, here is the Redeemer!
May
the ardent light of our Faith
Guide
us all to the cradle of the infant,
As
in ancient times a brilliant star
Guided
the Oriental kings there.
The
Kind of Kings was born in a humble manger,
O
mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,
It
is to your pride that God preaches.
Bow
your heads before the Redeemer!
Bow
your heads before the Redeemer!
The
Redeemer has overcome every obstacle:
The
Earth is free, and Heaven is open.
He
sees a brother where there was only a slave,
Love
unites those that iron had chained.
Who
will tell Him of our gratitude,
For
all of us he is born, He suffers and dies.
People
stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Christmas,
Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,
Christmas,
Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!”
John
Sullivan Dwight’s version:
“O!
Holy night! The stars, their gleams
prolonging,
Watch
o’er the eve of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long
lay the world in sin and error, longing
For
his appearance, then 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! O hear the angel voices!
O
night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O
night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led
by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With
glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored.
O’er
the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
And
come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard.
The
son of God lay thus within lowly manger;
In
all our trials born to be our Lord.
He
knows our need, our weakness never lasting,
Behold
your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
Behold
your King! By Him, let Earth accord!
Truly
He taught us to love one another,
His
law is love and His gospel is peace.
Long
live His truth, and may it last forever,
For
in his name all discordant noise 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 evermore proclaim!
His
power and glory evermore proclaim!”
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