A song so silent that it can be heard by the whole world

Oberndorf, December 24, 1818. A year of hardship and cruel poverty is coming to an end. People are still shaken by the Napoleonic wars. Thunderstorms, poor harvests, hunger and infant mortality have shaped the past.

In the old church of St. Nicholas (which had to be demolished later because of the damage caused by the floods), people met. Then they sing a song that Pastor Joseph Mohr gave them: "Silent night, sacred night, all sleeps, lonely wakes up …" For the first time, the song is sung – a glimmer of hope that Franz Xaver Gruber was wearing a melody. "People have been touched and applauded," wrote Gruber years later in memory of the night. From there, he will be heard in the following years in the world.

Joseph Mohr

Image: Archives

Oberndorf, December 24, 2018.

Even today, the song in the new church of St. Nicholas (identical to that of Linz-Kleinmünchen – only the tower is on the other side) is sung again. Even today, the song still exceeds the borders: the fair is broadcast on the radio. Pastor Nikolaus Erber has been responding for several days to requests from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. This highlights the importance of this anniversary. "Yes, it makes you move and it's hot when everyone gets together," he says. For him, the song shows the presence of God in every human being – without exception. After all, it says in the fourth stanza: "… as brother graciously embraced Jesus, the peoples of the world."

It is also the opinion of Elisabeth Seidlmann. She is a parish badistant in Hochburg-Ach, the original community of Franz Xaver Gruber. She crosses the Mette today. She will also talk about the moving story of the song. And the desire for hope that once united the people of Oberndorf 200 years ago. Because that, she says, is always present today. Even though it often has nothing to do with monetary matters. The ardent desire, she says, is today more an isolation, an illness, a search for security – in the family as in a foreign country.

Franz Xaver Gruber

Picture: OON

"Silent night!" Holy night! "Should highlight modesty." With prosperity, I can be a little happy, "says Seidelmann. I find great luck, but elsewhere, if you are with people and for them. "

For Elisabeth Seidelmann, it will be another moment of panic when we are all together in the Mette "Silent Night! Holy Night!" sing. As 200 years ago, on December 24, 1818 in Oberndorf.

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1816 writes the auxiliary pastor of Salzburg Joseph Mohr the six stanzas of Mariapfarr. December 24th 1818, Mohr was now in Oberndorf, he asked his friend Franz Xaver Gruber – Upper Austria taught in a neighboring community – to set it to music.

To learn more about the timing and circumstances in which the song was written, read: Six stanzas of peace

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The song to sing and play

PDF file (44.74 KBytes.)

2nd verse

Silent night! Holy night!
God's Son! Oh how to laugh
Love of your divine mouth,
As the flying hour beats us;
Jesus! in your birth!
Jesus! in your birth!

3rd verse (originally the 6th)

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds first announced
By the angel Halleluja!
Does it sound loud Bey far and near:
Jesus the Savior is here!
Jesus the Savior is here!

The Gospel According to Luke (Chapter 2)

At that time, the Emperor Augustus ordered the registration of all the inhabitants of the Reich on tax lists. It's happened for the first time. At that time, Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his city to sign up. So Joseph went from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem. for he was of David's house and family. He had to sign up for Maria, his fiancée, who was expecting a baby.

When they were there, the moment of their birth had come for Mary and she gave birth to her son, the firstborn. She wrapped him in diapers and placed him in a crib as there was no room for them in the hostel.
The shepherds camped in this area and watched with their flock. Then the angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them. They were very afraid, but the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, I proclaim you great joy to give to all peoples, today the Savior was born to you in the city of David, He is the Messiah, The Lord, and this is to serve as a sign: you will find a child who, wrapped in diapers, rests in a manger.

And suddenly there was a great heavenly host at the angel, who praised God and said, "Glorified, God is in the highest heaven, and on the earth reigns peace / among men of his grace. . "

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