O Holy Night!

Christians all over the world know and love the Christmas hymn, “O Holy Night.” The lyrics, originally written in French by Placide Cappeau in 1843, have been translated into languages from around the globe. The music was written by Adolphe Adam in 1847 and is as powerful as are the lyrics. 

It seems to me that this hymn in particular catches the essence of what the Christmas is all about: “our dear Savior’s birth,” the King of kings in a “lowly manger”, a teacher teaching us to “love one another,” a “Gospel (of) peace.”  And, they speak so well to the human condition throughout the ages: a world in “sin and error pining,” weariness, need, weakness, chains, oppression. 

Most of all, however, the lyrics to this hymn resound with worship and praise to the One who came bringing hope to a world that was trapped in sin, error, and weariness. It draws for us a picture of light breaking into darkness and those who experience that light bursting into “sweet hymns of praise” and “grateful chorus!” It’s just natural that we should sing at the top of our lungs, “Let all within us praise his holy name!”  

As you enter into Christmas 2021, you may be feeling a bit weary and overwhelmed by the situations of your life and of our world. If so, may the we lyrics to this hymn encourage your heart and lead you into praise to the One in whose name, one day all chains will be broken, oppression cease, and we will experience that “new and glorious morn!” 

O Holy Night by Placide Cappeau

[Verse 1]

O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til He appears and the soul 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, O night when Christ was born

O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

[Verse 2]

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

Here come the Wise Men from Orient land

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger

In all our trials born to be our friend

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger

Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

Behold your King; before Him lowly bend

[Verse 3]

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His Gospel is Peace

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name, all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we

Let all within us Praise His Holy name

Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!

His power and glory evermore proclaim

His power and glory evermore proclaim

May you have a very blessed and merry Christmas. 

- Pastor Tim Harris