CANTIQUE DE NOELAlyssa de la Rosa

Katherine Culbertson

O HOLY NIGHT

• Christmas Eve Mass

• French priest hired to write a poem

• On the way to Paris, read Luke’s Nativity

• Finished poem before arrival

PLACIDE CAPPEAU DE ROQUEMAURE

• Wrote music

• All the French Catholics liked it

• Church leaders banned the song

• Cappeau was socialist, Adams was Jewish

• The French kept singing anyway

ADOLPHE CHARLES ADAMS

• Abolitionist during the Civil War

• Brought song to America

• Published the song in his magazine

• The song got popular in the North

JOHN SULLIVAN DWIGHT

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, and in His Name all oppression shall cease

“”

FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR

• Christmas Eve 1871

• Unarmed French soldier jumped out of a trench into the no man’s land

• Started singing O Holy Night

• When he finished, a German soldier jumped out, too

• Started singing a Martin Luther hymn

• Everyone stopped fighting for Christmas

And French Church leaders made the song legal again

O Holy Night tells the story of Jesus’ birth and reminds us of God’s love

Oh holy night!The stars are brightly shiningIt is the night of the dear Savior's birth!Long lay the world in sin and error piningTill he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.A thrill of hope the weary world rejoicesFor yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your kneesOh hear the angel voicesOh night divineOh night when Christ was bornOh night divineOh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beamingWith glowing hearts by His cradle we standSo led by light of a star sweetly gleamingHere come the wise men from Orient landThe King of Kings lay thus in lowly mangerIn all our trials born to be our friend

Truly He taught us to love one anotherHis law is love and His gospel is peaceChains shall He break for the slave is our brotherAnd in His name all oppression shall ceaseSweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,Let all within us praise His holy name

Resources• http://www.incourage.me/2013/12/history-of-christmas-carols.html

• http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/oholynite.html

• http://bldphoenix.com/sounds/Josh_Groban_-_Oh_Holy_Night.mp3