Silent Night by Joseph Mohr

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Silent Night
by
Joseph Mohr

Silent night! Holy night!
All are sleeping, alone and awake
Only the intimate holy pair,
Lovely boy with curly hair,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, O how he laughs
Love from your divine mouth,
Then it hits us–the hour of salvation.
Jesus at your birth!
Jesus at your birth!

Silent night! Holy night!
Which brought salvation to the world,
From Heaven's golden heights,
Mercy's abundance was made visible to us:
Jesus in human form,
Jesus in human form.

Silent night! Holy night!
Where on this day all power
of fatherly love poured forth
And like a brother lovingly embraced
Jesus the peoples of the world,
Jesus the peoples of the world.

Already long ago planned for us,
When the Lord frees from wrath
Since the beginning of ancient times
A salvation promised for the whole world.
A salvation promised for the whole world.

Silent night! Holy night!
To shepherds it was first made known
By the angel, Alleluia;
Sounding forth loudly far and near:
Jesus the Savior is here!
Jesus the Savior is here!

This poem is in the public domain.

Josephus Franciscus Mohr (1792 – 1848) was an Austrian priest and poet born to a seamstress and a mercenary soldier who never married Joseph’s mother and abandoned them both before he was born. Raised in poverty, Joseph had the good fortune to be mentored by a priest who provided him with instruction in both academics and music. Ordained at the age of 23, Joseph served as an assistant priest in several communities around Salzburg before settling at a church in Wagrain in 1837. There, he developed a successful program which provided food and lodging at local farms for the poor and elderly in his parish. He died a beloved member of his community, completely unaware that this poem would one day be one of the world’s best known and best loved Christmas carols.

twinkscat:
Thanks so much for all you do for YDP. I enjoy it every day! A blessed Christmas to you and yours.
Posted 12/25/2013 09:15 PM

jayne:
My great pleasure, believe me. Hope everyone has enjoyed a wonderful day!
Posted 12/25/2013 03:49 PM

Dorcas:
Thank you for putting me in a more spiritual mood. We should not let what we see that is adverse to the light His birth brings invade us. Why waste time on that which does not pertain to the Spirit of the Season?
Posted 12/25/2013 09:42 AM

KevinArnold:
Perfect selection for Christmas Day. YDP, YDP, YDP!
Posted 12/25/2013 09:19 AM

TheSilverOne:
How wonderful to hear this background and read this original version. Thank you, Janyne, and Merry Christmas!!!
Posted 12/25/2013 08:35 AM

Donal Mahoney:
Jayne, I thank you very much for offering the history behind "Silent Night" and printing the original text, especially on Christmas morning. I also want to echo a reader's comment from the other day thanking you for all the work you put into selecting poems for your readers. They are a special group and only your contributors know how carefully you select the poems that will appear on Your Daily Poem. Merry Christmas. Donal Mahoney
Posted 12/25/2013 04:58 AM

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