Monday’s thoughts for the sermon for December 10th
“When the Night Became Silent”
The sermon will look at the origin of the Christmas Carol “Silent Night”. The following is what I discovered about that hymn: “Joseph Mohr was born in the lovely city of
Salzburg, Austria in 1792. As a boy he was an active chorister in the Cathedral of Salzburg. In 1815 Mohr was ordained into the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. Following his ordination, he served various parishes in the Salzburg area. It was while serving as an assistant priest in 1818, at the newly erected Church of St. Nicholas in Obernorf in the region of Tyrol, high in the beautiful Alps, that Mohr wrote the text for this favorite of all Christmas carols. Father Mohr and Franz Gruber, the village schoolmaster and church organist, had often talked about the fact that the perfect Christmas hymn had never been written. With this goal in mind, and after he had received word that the church organ would not function, Father Mohr decided that he must write his own Christmas hymn, immediately, in order to have music for the special Christmas Eve Mass and to avoid disappointing his faithful congregation.” Kenneth Osbeck Hymn Stories Isn’t it interesting that the most beautiful hymn ever written for Christmas was produced at a time when music in the church was silenced? Sometimes our best days fall in the midst of what we call a crisis. What do you think about Silent Night as a Christmas carol? As a song? It is my favorite Christmas carol. What is your favorite? Why? If you have thoughts to share publicly, please leave a comment with this post as indicated where it says “comments”. For personal thoughts intended only for me write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net I look forward to hearing from you. Charles
The sermon will look at the origin of the Christmas Carol “Silent Night”. The following is what I discovered about that hymn: “Joseph Mohr was born in the lovely city of
Salzburg, Austria in 1792. As a boy he was an active chorister in the Cathedral of Salzburg. In 1815 Mohr was ordained into the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. Following his ordination, he served various parishes in the Salzburg area. It was while serving as an assistant priest in 1818, at the newly erected Church of St. Nicholas in Obernorf in the region of Tyrol, high in the beautiful Alps, that Mohr wrote the text for this favorite of all Christmas carols. Father Mohr and Franz Gruber, the village schoolmaster and church organist, had often talked about the fact that the perfect Christmas hymn had never been written. With this goal in mind, and after he had received word that the church organ would not function, Father Mohr decided that he must write his own Christmas hymn, immediately, in order to have music for the special Christmas Eve Mass and to avoid disappointing his faithful congregation.” Kenneth Osbeck Hymn Stories Isn’t it interesting that the most beautiful hymn ever written for Christmas was produced at a time when music in the church was silenced? Sometimes our best days fall in the midst of what we call a crisis. What do you think about Silent Night as a Christmas carol? As a song? It is my favorite Christmas carol. What is your favorite? Why? If you have thoughts to share publicly, please leave a comment with this post as indicated where it says “comments”. For personal thoughts intended only for me write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net I look forward to hearing from you. Charles
