I am a blessed girl to capture God's Blessings!: December 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Countdown to Christmas!

With the countdown to Christmas I thought it would be nice to post some stories behind some of my favorite things about Christmas. The song "O' Holy Night" brings back great memories of me, my brother, mom, dad, Aunt Nance, Uncle Marvin, and grannie attending midnight mass, then hurrying home to get in bed so Santa would soon arrive!! I’ve discovered that “O Holy Night”, my very favorite Christmas carol, is also noted to be one of the worlds most favorite. I believe it is because its lyrics and melody are a perfect combination and uplift our souls to God Himself.

O Holy Night was written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847. The music was written by Adolphe Charles Adams. Placide was known for his poetry, and the lyrics to hte song are certainly poetry. He was approached by his parish priest to write something for the Christmas Mass, and this is what he came up with. He used the Gospel of Luke as his guide, and imagined what witnessing the birth of Jesus was like. He titled it "Cantique de Noel," which has become known in English as "O Holy Night."

And mom if you are reading my blog today- yes, I know you love it so this is one of your Christmas gifts- I have just admired it so much, I had to blog about it!!!

O Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Luke 1:26-38

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”
³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.