Posted on 12/14/2014 10:52:36 AM PST by Morgana
Every year during December I have been posting the surprising abolitionist history behind some of our most beloved Christmas hymns. Pro-lifers identify closely with those 150 years ago who fought to free another oppressed class of people.
This Sunday, Wk 2 of 4, we examine…
O Holy Night
In 1847, his parish priest asked French poet Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure to compose a Christmas poem. He wrote “Cantique de Noel” while contemplating what it would have been like to be present at Christ’s birth and asked his friend Adolphe-Charles Adam to set it to music.
The song became an instant classic in France but was later denounced by the Church after Placide himself denounced the Church and became a Socialist Communist, and it was also learned Adam was a Jew.
A decade later American abolitionist and pastor John Sullivan Dwight learned of the beautiful song and saw something more when translating it into English.
According to Ace Collins in his book, Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas, Verse 3 “supported Dwight’s own view of slavery in the South…. Dwight’s English translation of ‘O Holy Night’ quickly found favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War.”
Here is the literal English translation of Verse 3:
The Redeemer has overcome every obstacle: 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.
And here was Dwight’s translation of Verse 3:
Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy name.
In conjunction with this post, here is a a link to the most memorable rendition of this classic I’ve ever seen, by David Phelps, which includes Dwight’s Verse 3.
Direct link to video:
http://www.jillstanek.com/2011/12/sunday-video-extra-o-holy-night-by-david-phelps/
Thank you for sharing this. I’d never heard it before, and it literally gave me chills. Wow! and double WOW! Now that’s PRAISE!
In the homosexual world of Johnny Mathis, as well as social progressives, the verse has more to do with slavery than it has to do with Christian praise of the Lord.
Much too choppy.
Here is a much better version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xULr6Z2VzLQ
Josh Groban knows how to sing my favorite Christmas song the proper way.
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Thus with this verse we understand better the reason for the forth, 'Despair' verse.
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
That that verse leads to the 'Credo' verse illustrates how Longfellow kept his faith while in despair!
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.
My favorite Christmas Carol. Tears automatically appear at its singing.
I’ve never heard that version in a Catholic Church. It has the word “Noel” repeatedly, where the Catholic version has the words” Fall on your knees” repeated several times.
I don’t like the pictures on this — too modern for me. But the music is what I am used to hearing on Christmas Eve.
Open it in another window and just listen.
What nonsense.
*Fall on your knees* is the only version that I have ever heard.
And since I’ve only heard it in Protestant churches, it’s not really a Catholic version, it’s the Protestant version.
Ah, you are so right. Hmmm...I guess I was not paying attention. Okay, well here is my very favorite rendition — Perry Como:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEx3IgGNyJI
Good one. I used to have the vinyl of it.
Thank you for agreeing with me.
Now, please listen to the first link — it does not have those words.
I did not agree with you. Try reading comprehension lessons.
It’s bogus to claim that everything is *Catholic*.
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