An Advent of Inspiration: Day 27!

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve! Tomorrow, my sisters and I will be singing at the Christmas Eve Mass, one of the songs that will be sung is "O Holy Night."

 "O Holy Night" was originally a French song, written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure, a Wine Commissionaire in a small French town in 1847. He was a faithful Catholic and a poet, who at the request of the local Pastor, he wrote a poem on Christ's birth. His inspiration was the Gospel of Luke, and the image of witnessing Christ's birth in a  manger. He was so pleased with his poem that he decided it should be a song, not being musically inclined himself, he enlisted the help of a Jewish friend, Adolphe Charles Adams, the son of a well-known Classical musician. At first, Adolphe was hesitant composing a song for the birth of Jesus, because he was Jewish, but nevertheless he did the deed. The song became a staple Christmas song throughout France, but when Placide became a socialist and walked away from the church, this song was banned from all Catholic churches. However, it once again made its way back to the church, when an American Writer, John Sullivan Dwight, decided to translate and produce in America. Dwight was moved by the beautiful lyrics in honor of Christ's birth and because he was an ardent abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse: "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."  "O Holy Night," quickly became popular in America, especially in the North during the Civil War. 

However, back in France the song was still banned, but many commoners still sang the song. Legend has it, that on Christmas Eve during the French-Prussian war, a French soldier got out of the muddy trenches, without any weapons, right in the middle of a heated battle between the French and the Germans. Both sides were shocked at this seemingly crazed soldier actions. Than, the soldier began singing in French, "O Holy Night," after finishing all three verses, a German infantryman climbed out of his hiding-place and answered him in German the beginning of Martin Luther's robust "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come."

 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. -Isaiah 40:11

The Twenty-Seventh Day of Advent! 

Oh, Emmanuel, 

"God-with-Us," 

You have touched me; 

you are God-with-Me.

Thank you for these weeks of prayer. 

In the spirit of the season 

my waiting, my patience, 

feels sacred.

Refine and purify my heart 

with the hottest flame of your love. 

Give me the courage of your prophets 

and let me do what is right 

even when others don't understand.

Bless my heart with generosity 

and make me ready to receive you.

Come, Lord Jesus!  Come!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Amen.

Ta, Ta for Now!