O Holy Night

In France, in the mid 1800’s, a parish priest asked a wine and spirits seller — who was an avowed atheist — to write a Christmas poem to celebrate the renovation of the church organ. The atheist studied Luke’s gospel and went on to write the beautiful, lofty, praise-filled lyrics to this song we’ve come to know as “O Holy Night”. Such is the power of the good news of Jesus Christ that even an atheist could — by reading it — offer such an inspiring report. Please give it a sing-along listen, then we’ll look at the rest of the story.

The touch of the master’s hand

‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar. Then two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?”

“Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three…” But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going and gone,” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of the Master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game — and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.

Myra Brooks Welch

Unlikely songwriting

The story of how this song came to be is both strange and wonderful. It made me think of that beautiful poem “The Touch of the Master’s Hand”. Let’s see if you agree.

Wikipedia tells the story this way: “O Holy Night” (original title: Cantique de Noël) is a well-known Christmas carol. Originally based on a French-language poem by poet Placide Cappeau, written in 1843, with the first line “Minuit, Chrétien, c’est l’heure solennelle” (Midnight, Christian, is the solemn hour) that composer Adolphe Adam set to music in 1847. The English version (with small changes to the initial melody) is by John Sullivan Dwight. The carol reflects on the birth of Jesus as humanity’s redemption.
(See article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Holy_Night)

Hymnary.org adds these remarkable details:

Placide Cappeau was born in France in 1808, the son of a cooper. He may have followed in his father’s business, but when eight years old, a playmate accidentally shot him in the hand with a gun he was playing with, and the hand had to be amputated. He followed an academic career instead. The shooter’s father paid for half his education, and he was able to attend town school and the College Royal d’Avignon. Despite his handicap, he was awarded a first prize in drawing there. He studied literature in Nimes, and law in Paris, and was licensed to practice law in 1831. Instead, he became a merchant of wines and spirits, but his focus was really on literature. A parish priest, Father Petitjean, in Cappeau’s community, asked him to write a Christmas poem to celebrate the renovation of their organ, and he agreed to do it, despite being an avowed atheist and vocal anti-cleric. He researched the book of Luke and wrote the lyrics to “O Holy night”. An opera singer, Emily Laurie, saw the text and asked a Jewish friend of hers to compose music for it, which he, remarkably, did. She sang it at a midnight mass three weeks later, and parishioners raved. But when Catholic church leaders found out it was written by an atheist, they banned it. However, its popularity only grew.

A side story: In 1906 Reginald Fessenden, a 33 year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison, did something thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, he spoke into a microphone and for the first time in history a voice was broadcast over the airwaves. And he read, from the book of Luke, “And it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” He began, in a clear strong voice. Shocked radio operators on ships and wireless owners at newspapers, used to Morse code heard over tiny speakers, were interrupted by a speaking voice reading Luke and had no idea where it came from. When the professor finished his reading, he picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night”.. the first song ever played over the air waves in the whole world. Imagine the surprise of listeners everywhere, never suspecting such a thing was possible.

(See article at https://hymnary.org/person/Cappeau_P)

But God

“But God” have been called “the two greatest words in the Bible”. How many times has it happened that some ordinary thing — or some “ordinary” person is touched by the Master’s hand, and something beautiful, maybe even miraculous results?

“O Holy Night” began with a parish priest asking an atheist to write a Christmas poem. An opera singer somehow got the Christmas poem, loved it and asked a Jewish friend to write a melody for it. She sang this new work at mass three weeks later. People loved it, but when some Catholic church leaders learned an atheist wrote it, they banned it. But worshipers wouldn’t give the song up, and it lived on. Later, John S. Dwight, a music virtuoso, literary scholar and writer translated the Christmas song to English.

It seems that this was the first music ever broadcast over the airwaves in the whole world.

Would you agree this song has a remarkable history? What a surprising cast of players and chain of events that moved this song along.

More than one hundred seventy years later we still put this song to work, raising our voices and hearts to the Lord in praise, thanksgiving and awe as we celebrate the change wrought in a person by the touch of the Master’s hand and as we contemplate the humble beginning of the Savior — the agent of all that change — who was born on that holy night.

God bless you lots!
Dale R.


Download this song sheet from “The Music Box”

LYRICS: O Holy Night
French lyrics: Placide Cappeau (1808-1877)
Translated: John S. Dwight (1813-1893)
Tune: Adolphe-Charles Adam (1803-1856)


O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope — the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Magi from eastern land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

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.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

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12 Replies to “O Holy Night”

  1. Julia Witchard

    Good evening mr dale, …I read what Mr Richardson mr Richardson quoted, …he said, u nail it dale, and yes mr Richardson, yes mr dale did,…sush an amazing sermon and song as always, mr dale I enjoyed what u said about the atheist, when he got acquainted with the gospel of Luke, how he went on an wrote such a beautiful poem, that’s what happens like u said “JUST A TOUCH OF THE “MASTER ‘S “HAND ” .. That’s what happened to Paul, when he was knocked down..and when he got up, he was never the same, “TOUCHED BY THE MASTER’S HAND “… I am so enjoying this, and again Mr dale, that is truly all we need is to be. “TOUCHED BY THE MASTER’S HAND, And u are “TOUCHED BY THE MASTER’S HAND , AND YES IT WAS A HOLY, HOLY, HOLY NIGHT, WHEN OUR FATHER JESUS WAS BORN, …Thanks again Mr dale, for your songs and sermons,, u really did nail this one ,as Mr Richardson said 😀…..BLESSINGS UPON BLESSINGS GOES OUT TO U AND CATHY…ALWAYS 🙏.. MERRY XMAS TO ALL..WITH MUCH LOVE 💘 AND BLESSINGS 🙏…

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      The touch of the Master’s hand … wonderful poem, wonderful reality. Thank you, Julia, for your kind, encouraging note. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas. God bless you lots — Dale R.

      Reply
  2. Sal Arico

    Thanks brother Dale! What a God-story! I would love to have been there to see it all unfold and to see Placide writing these incredible words! And that it would be the first song ever heard on the air waves is perfect! Christ is born, Christ Is Lord! Thanks Dale for another blessing!

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Sal, thanks for your note. This is one of those many God stories that seems to require “God” glasses to notice. Put them on … and there it is. Thanks for enjoying it along with me! God bless you lots — D.

      Reply
  3. Dan

    Great song Dale. I had no idea about the incredible history behind it. It is a great Christmas blessing. Oh Holy night indeed!
    Thank You for sharing this Christmas message about Jesus.
    Love You!

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Dan, thanks for your note. Indeed, what a fascinating story behind this song. I love the “extra” verses. What a testimony from someone who is supposed to be an atheist! God bless you lots — D.

      Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Craige, I’m glad we’ll get so much time at the other end to hear “the rest of the story” on a thousand other “familiar” things God made special in similar ways. Wishing you all God’s best! Thanks for your note. -Dale R.

      Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Paul, thanks for your note. I agree … this story is another “God” story … wonderful to learn and a delight to share. God bless you lots — Dale R.

      Reply
  4. Sara G

    So beautiful! Thank you for all you do, Dale. “In his name all oppression shall cease.” May we always praise his name. We thank God for you, Cathy and your family. Merry Christmas.

    Reply
    1. Dale Reichel Post author

      Sara, Thank you for your note and blessings. What a day when all oppression ceases! We get glimmers of it now, and labor to help everyone we can rise above it and walk in the freedom of the Lord. Much to be thankful for now, and what a day we look forward to!! God is good. God bless you and the fam lots! -D.

      Reply

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