Christmas Writing 13:Silent Night:Story

 

Silent Night:Story

November 30 2024

Part 1

The war torn land sent shivers through the countryside at Christmas. Everywhere he looked Joseph Mohr could see soldiers suffering for their participation in the war. Missing body parts and unsound minds were only part of the conversation..They, like many who lived there, were living in subhuman conditions. They had not been able to farm. This caused great distress in the winter time when there were mouths to feed but the cupboards were bare.Because the people needed food they committed crimes on those who could afford some of life's nicer things.  Illnesses surrounded the people, where the sick were lined up like dominos waiting to fall to their certain deaths. The situation was hopeless.

Somehow the young priest needed to find a way to calm his parishioners, He needed to reassure them that it is God’s will that they live the best lives they possibly could. But how? They rarely attended services and those that did were older or those who had suffered the most. He sat at his writing table and wrote down his thoughts.

“Not bad,” he thought upon completion of his task.. “Not bad at all.” He would share his writing at the Christmas Eve mass where more people attended. 

At the end of his reading of the poem he had created there was silence. He looked up to see a look he could only describe as rapt attention in the tiny church. He could see something on their faces, in their eyes but was unable to discern its meaning, until a small voice called out,

“Please sir, could we hear it again?” which was followed by a swelling murmur of consent. 

“Interesting,” he thought. He did as his parishioners requested. Only this time the rapt attention turned into a warm pleasure. He smiled gratefully and thanked his parishioners for attending the service. Many complimented him on his oration. He tucked it away as he had many other issues to confront. His thoughts never strayed far as he rewrote it, constantly streamlining his thoughts and feelings into creating a stronger piece of work. 

Part 2

As the organist sat down at the organ to practice for the Christmas Eve service he felt a gust of hope. Christmas Eve always brought more of the town's residents to the midnight service. It brought a warm glow to his heart to lead so many people, rich and poor, sick and in good health in song on this night. He had spent days carefully choosing the music he would perform to lead them in their singing. He ran his fingers over the keyboard of the organ only to hear sad sounds being ejected from the instrument. The town's annual floods had not been helpful in maintaining a healthy environment for him to perform.  He rose and inspected the now faltering instrument with interest. 

“Everything okay Franz?” called out the new priest. 

“The organ cannot be repaired for tonight,” he stated.

 Father Joseph considered this for a moment. “Songs of faith will be sung. All will be well.”

“Are those songs of faith enough to encourage hope amongst our people? People are losing faith in the world. They long for depth and connection; they long for something to warm their hearts in a way in which will give them hope.” He looked up at the Priest. “Does your sermon touch on those topics?”

Father Joseph smiled. I have worked some of them in and will continue to apply them. But the people have been hearing these for a while. It's Christmas. I have something new I would like to try tonight. I will need your help.”

“In what way Father? The organ is broken.”

“Could you compose a new melody for this poem?

“Let’s see the poem.” He read the words carefully. He could sense a rhythm but also a gentleness. It was almost a lullaby. “I think I can come up with something. Give me a little bit,” and with that he walked over to where his guitar rested and picked it up. He strummed quietly while singing the words to himself. 

He called the Priest over in a little while. “I need you to sing this with me.” he said. He began singing, showing the priest where his part did lie. They rehearsed a couple of more times before they felt they could perform it adequately.

Father Joseph stood at his pulpit that evening and spoke.

“In the dead of winter everything looks impossible. We are snowbound so travel is not easy. Due to the problems we face daily we have faced a lack of hope. Our food supplies are weak. But traveling in the name of our Lord there is always hope. He is always here in your hearts, encouraging you to be your best and that in doing so you will achieve his glory. Tonight, we move more towards the hope that life will be better. It will be stronger because we believe.

As you are aware our organ is in need of repair. Our organist, Franz, and I have created a new hymn, a song which we feel is necessary in our times of need.”

They began to sing:

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!

Silent night! Holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing
"Alleluia" to our King:
“Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.”

As they sang, a strong interest began to move about the room. People sat up and paid close attention to what was being sung. There was a feeling of belief that the gloom that had hung over them for the past few years had been released. Their focus on the song and its meaning had captured their hearts. Talk was of feeling the song in the depths of their hearts. 

When Franz and the Priest concluded their duet, the parishioners roared with thunderous applause. 

They had created a timeless piece of music with a message that reached into people's hearts. It demonstrated a reflection on what’s really most important: Family and peaceful co-existence. A belief that there are larger things at work if we trust and believe that they are possible. The simplicity and the real meaning of life touched upon in the song have made it a favourite and inspiring piece of music all these many years later. 

Sing the first verse. It really does move you.