“O Holy Night”
Confessing a Christmas Carol
In the preface to Georg Rhau’s Symphoniae Iucindae (1529), Martin Luther wrote concerning music: I would certainly like to praise music with all my heart as the excellent gift of God which it is and to commend it to everyone . . . Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions - to pass over the animals - which as masters govern men or more often overwhelm them. No greater commendation than this can be found - at least not by us.” Amen! Perhaps no other music stirs the emotion of the Christian’s heart more than true Christmas hymns and carols! A few chords from a beloved carol during the quiet hours of Christmas Eve can move even the Scroogiest among us.
On such carol is “O Holy Night.” Known in its native tongue, “Cantique de Noel,” was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem, “Minuit, chréstiens,” written by Placide Cappeau in 1847. Cappeau was a wine merchant and poet, and though a professed atheist himself, the poem is remarkably Biblical and catholic in its original form. In 1855, Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight “translated” the poem into English and wrote the sun version known today, which begins:
“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pinning,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, teh weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angels voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.”
Now, I neither read nor speak French, yet consider the literal English translation of Cappeau’s poem compared to the versification rendered by the Unitarian:
“Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour,
When God as Man descended unto us
To erase the stain of original sin
And to end the wrath of His Father.
The entire world thrills with hope
On this night that gives it a Savior.
People kneel down, wait for your deliverance.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!”
Note the bold confession of sin, grace, the incarnation, and atonement present in the original, as compared to the sentimentality of the Unitarian “translation.” I point this out not to besmirch the name of Rev. Dwight nor ascribe intentions to Cappeau that he himself denied (after all, he was a professed atheist). The point is this: music - beautiful, moving, emotional, and virtuous - is truly only as good, right, and salutary as the text it seeks to bolster and support. Because of music’s powerful effect on human emotions and passions, one ought to use it wisely in connection with solid, faithful Christian hymnody (even that written by professed atheists!). For we acknowledge that while music is priceless, it is but handmaiden to the Word! So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Indeed Christ is that Word of God! The Word made flesh, descended as Man to erase the stain of original sin and end the Father’s wrath.
This Advent and Christmas season let us endeavor to immerse ourselves in the blessed hymnody of the Church, the hymns and carols sung by faithful Christians throughout the centuries. Let us join our voices to theirs in ceaseless praise to our God and Father for His boundless love to us when He sent His Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior!
Here is the remainder of Cappeau’s poem:
“May the ardent light of our Faith
Guide us all to the cradle of the infant,
As in ancient times a brilliant star
Guided the Oriental kings there.
The King of Kings was born in a humble manger;
O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,
It is to your pride that God preaches.
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
The Redeemer has broken every bond:
The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.
He sees a brother where there was only a slave,
Love unites those that iron had chained.
Who will tell Him of our gratitude,
For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.
People stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!”
A blessed Advent and merry Christmas,
Your unworthy servant,
Pr Mierow
Feast of St Andrew, Apostle
Confessing a Christmas Carol
In the preface to Georg Rhau’s Symphoniae Iucindae (1529), Martin Luther wrote concerning music: I would certainly like to praise music with all my heart as the excellent gift of God which it is and to commend it to everyone . . . Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions - to pass over the animals - which as masters govern men or more often overwhelm them. No greater commendation than this can be found - at least not by us.” Amen! Perhaps no other music stirs the emotion of the Christian’s heart more than true Christmas hymns and carols! A few chords from a beloved carol during the quiet hours of Christmas Eve can move even the Scroogiest among us.
On such carol is “O Holy Night.” Known in its native tongue, “Cantique de Noel,” was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem, “Minuit, chréstiens,” written by Placide Cappeau in 1847. Cappeau was a wine merchant and poet, and though a professed atheist himself, the poem is remarkably Biblical and catholic in its original form. In 1855, Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight “translated” the poem into English and wrote the sun version known today, which begins:
“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pinning,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, teh weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angels voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.”
Now, I neither read nor speak French, yet consider the literal English translation of Cappeau’s poem compared to the versification rendered by the Unitarian:
“Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour,
When God as Man descended unto us
To erase the stain of original sin
And to end the wrath of His Father.
The entire world thrills with hope
On this night that gives it a Savior.
People kneel down, wait for your deliverance.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer.
Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!”
Note the bold confession of sin, grace, the incarnation, and atonement present in the original, as compared to the sentimentality of the Unitarian “translation.” I point this out not to besmirch the name of Rev. Dwight nor ascribe intentions to Cappeau that he himself denied (after all, he was a professed atheist). The point is this: music - beautiful, moving, emotional, and virtuous - is truly only as good, right, and salutary as the text it seeks to bolster and support. Because of music’s powerful effect on human emotions and passions, one ought to use it wisely in connection with solid, faithful Christian hymnody (even that written by professed atheists!). For we acknowledge that while music is priceless, it is but handmaiden to the Word! So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Indeed Christ is that Word of God! The Word made flesh, descended as Man to erase the stain of original sin and end the Father’s wrath.
This Advent and Christmas season let us endeavor to immerse ourselves in the blessed hymnody of the Church, the hymns and carols sung by faithful Christians throughout the centuries. Let us join our voices to theirs in ceaseless praise to our God and Father for His boundless love to us when He sent His Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior!
Here is the remainder of Cappeau’s poem:
“May the ardent light of our Faith
Guide us all to the cradle of the infant,
As in ancient times a brilliant star
Guided the Oriental kings there.
The King of Kings was born in a humble manger;
O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,
It is to your pride that God preaches.
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
Bow your heads before the Redeemer!
The Redeemer has broken every bond:
The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.
He sees a brother where there was only a slave,
Love unites those that iron had chained.
Who will tell Him of our gratitude,
For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.
People stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,
Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!”
A blessed Advent and merry Christmas,
Your unworthy servant,
Pr Mierow
Feast of St Andrew, Apostle
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