Many songs have been written about this season we call “Christmas”, which as believers in Christ Jesus, we know to be the celebration of His birth (the true “Reason for the Season”). Recently, I learned of the story behind the beautiful and classic song of “O Holy Night” (‘Cantique de Noel’). It was written in 1847, when a man in France (Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure) was asked by his local priest to write a poem about Christmas. He used the gospel of Luke as his inspiration as he contemplated on what it must have been like to have been there in Bethlehem, witnessing all that transpired at that time. Upon completing the poem, he realized it should also be set to music, and asked a musician friend to compose the music (Adolphe Charles Adams).
It was performed for a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve that year, and soon became a popular and dearly loved song. Later, when both the poet and composer fell out of favor with the church, the song was banned. However, the people still loved it and sang it anyway. A decade later, it eventually made its way to the US, was translated into English and sung during the Civil War (especially by those in the North).
The following is a story of how this song inspired yet another miracle of peace and goodwill, albeit for a brief time.
“Back in France, even though the song had been banned from the church for almost two decades, many commoners still sang "Cantique de Noel" at home. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench. Both sides stared at the seemingly crazed man. Boldly standing with no weapon in his hand or at his side, he lifted his eyes to the heavens and sang, "Minuit, Chretiens, c'est l'heure solennelle ou L'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'a nous," the beginning of "Cantique de Noel." After completing all three verses, a German infantryman climbed out his hiding place and answered with, "Vom Himmel noch, da komm' ich her. Ich bring' euch gute neue Mar, Der guten Mar bring' ich so viel, Davon ich sing'n und sagen will," the beginning of Martin Luther's robust "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come."
“The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. Perhaps this story had a part in the French church once again embracing "Cantique de Noel" in holiday services.”
Note: This information and quote are taken from-- https://www.beliefnet.com/entertainment/movies/the-nativity-story/the-amazing-story-of-o-holy-night.aspx
Christ came as a baby so long ago, but lives today as is our Prince of Peace. The world will always have strife and conflicts, but to those who believe, He promises a peace that is ‘not as the world gives’ (John 14:27). It is a peace that comes when we know and trust in Him, Immanuel; that God truly is with us!
May you and yours know the peace, which He brings,
this Christmas and throughout the New Year!
May God bless you! Ann Abbott
Listen to this beautiful song, and ponder the awesome miracle of that ‘Holy Night’.