What do a French Priest, a Socialist, a Jewish composer, Thomas Edison and an Abolitionist have in common? In one of His Other Ways, this strange and incredible story, woven through the fabric of two centuries, could have only been orchestrated by God.
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In 1847 a French parish priest hired a well-known poet to write a poem for the village’s Christmas Eve Mass. The poet was also a wine merchant and lawyer, and had one hand amputated as a result of a gun shot wound when he was a young boy.
As he traveled from his home in the south of France to Paris, he considered the priest’s request. He imagined witnessing the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and composed words based on the Gospel of Luke. It must have been difficult to write the beautiful words with one hand as he traveled by stagecoach on the very bumpy road.
When it was completed he felt it was truly more like a hymn than a poem. He asked a talented and trained composer friend to create a musical accompaniment. His friend was of Jewish ancestry, and it is surprising he was able to create a score around the words about a man he did not consider to be the son of God.
The song was performed about three weeks later in 1847 at a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It was immediately well-received and found its way into Catholic Christmas services all over France. However, it was later denounced by the Church when it was discovered that the poet had become part of the socialist movement and that the composer was Jewish. Though it was banned for decades, the French people still sang the hymn.
Legend has it that during the Franco-Prussian War (between France and Germany) in the 1870s, the hymn was instrumental in causing a cease fire.
A French unarmed soldier reportedly jumped up out of a muddy trench and began to sing the hymn. This was followed by an unarmed German soldier also jumping out of his trench and singing a popular Martin Luther hymn, From Heaven Above to Earth I Come. The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas Day.
Cantique de Noel was introduced to the United States during our Civil War when a French abolitionist appropriated these words from the hymn… "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."
On Christmas Eve of 1906, a young professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison did something that was thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, he spoke into a microphone and for the first time in history a man's voice was broadcast over the airwaves! In a clear and strong voice, hoping that he was reaching across the distances, he said, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed”…
Shocked, radio operators on ships and astonished wireless owners at newspapers sat slack-jawed as their normal, coded impulses, heard over tiny speakers, were interrupted by a professor reading from the gospel of Luke!
To the few who caught this broadcast, it must have seemed like a miracle, hearing a voice somehow transmitted from a distance away. Perhaps some might have believed they were hearing the voice of an angel!
After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, the professor picked up his violin and played the hymn melody. It was the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves.
This incredible work…
— requested by a forgotten parish priest,
— written by a poet with socialist beliefs that split him from the Catholic church
— of soaring music written by a Jewish composer
— brought to America to serve as a tool to spotlight the sinful nature of slavery as well as to tell the story of the birth of our Savior.
— has become one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created.
We know the hymn as:
O HOLY NIGHT
Lyrics: Placide Cappeau de Roquelaure Music: Adolphe Charles Adams
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.
Chorus: O hear the angel voices
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night, O night divine
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Chorus: Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
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.
Chorus: He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
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.
Chorus: Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NIV
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:9-14 NIV
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If you have a story that you think might bless others, I invite you to send it by email to me (Kenneth Kersey) at godsotherways@me.com.
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