O Holy Night (stanza 3)
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
In 1847 the parish priest in a small French town asked the commissionaire of wines to write a celebratory poem for Christmas mass. Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure turned to the gospel of Luke to create his remarkable images of Christ’s birth. Inspired to set his Cantique de Noel to music, Cappeau approached his friend and recognized classical musician, Adolphe-Charles Adam. Of the Jewish faith, Adam’s challenge was to craft a score for a poem celebrating Christmas and Christ – both counter to his belief structure. Cantique de Noel was widely accepted by the church in France until Cappeau left the church to join the Socialist movement and Adam’s Jewish ancestry was uncovered. The French Catholic church denounced the song for two decades, but the French people still sang this thrilling song in their homes.
American writer and zealous abolitionist, John Sullivan Dwight, translated Cantique de Noel in the 1850s. He interpreted the song’s message beyond Christ’s birth, linking the last stanza to his view of the sinful nature of slavery. Dwight published his translation in his own magazine and O Holy Night became broadly cherished in our nation. Christmas Eve some fifty years later, the hymn received the distinction of being broadcast on the first AM radio program by Reginald Fessenden. Canadian inventor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison, Fessenden opened the program by reading from the gospel of Luke, then playing O Holy Night with his violin and singing the last verse.
Little did I know of the history of O Holy Night when I began my Google search. The words and music inspire great joy in the miracle of Christ’s coming. But we are reminded of our solemn mission to lift – in His name – the enslaved and the oppressed. Can each of us take a step toward achieving that mission in this Advent Season?
O Holy comforter, help us each take a step forward this season to lift the enslaved and oppressed in your Name. Amen.
Sandi Huszagh
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