December 24 

O Holy Night 

TEXT: Placide Cappeau

b. October 25, 1808, Roquemaure, France

d. August 8, 1877, Roquemarure, France

Translated, John S. Dwight

b. May 13, 1813, Boston, Massachusetts

d. September 5, 1893, Boston, Massachusetts

For a Christmas Eve service in 1847, Placide Cappeau was asked by a parish priest in his town to write a Christmas poem. It is believed he actually wrote it while traveling in a stagecoach. Although Cappeau, a socialist, had little belief in the Christmas story, he realized upon completing the poem that there was something special about it. He asked a musician friend, Adophe Adams, to write a melody. In 1855, American journalist and Unitarian minister John Dwight heard the song and created an English edition. Though his translation is very singable, a literal translation of the French is even more clearly and pointedly an expression of the gospel.

TUNE: Adophe C. Adams

b. July 24, 1803, Paris, France,

d. May 3, 1856, Paris, France

A professional composer, Adophe Adams was famous at the time for his composition of numerous operas and ballets. Because Adams was of Jewish heritage, accepting the commission to write the tune for Cappaeu’s poem was for Adams no more than a professional endeavor. However, this is the music for which he is best known. After a Handel aria, it was the second song ever broadcast on early radio, Christmas Eve, 1906. Capturing the drama of opera, it has been sung and recorded by more famous singers and choirs than perhaps any other Christmas carol. Yet because of its familiarity, it is also singable by most people.

As you sing this hymn … you are experiencing a perfect example of how God uses all things and people to accomplish His purpose and display His glory. Written by a man with little belief in the Christmas story, put to music by a nonbelieving Jewish musician, and translated by a liberal theologian, this carol proclaims the truth in a compelling song for the ages. Because of these origins, however, it was banned by the French Catholic church as being unfit. But the French people continued to sing it, and soon the song spread around the world. It brought conviction to slave owners worldwide. On Christmas Eve, it was sung across French and German battle lines during WWI. How amazing to see the hand of God in its creation as well as its use by believers and nonbelievers alike.

There is a definite progression in the song. The first stanza identifies the need, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.” Christ appeared and “the weary world rejoices.” The second verse tells us of the heart of Christ for this world: “In all our trials, born to be our friend. He knows our needs, to our weakness is no stranger.” In the final stanza, we are given guidance for how we should live: “He taught us to love one another … the slave is our brother.” Finally, we are entreated in the ultimate response we all must make to this encounter with the babe of Bethlehem: “Fall on your knees … Christ is the Lord, O to praise His name forever … His power and glory evermore proclaim.” Hardly a clearer or more important sermon could we hear on Christmas Eve.