The origin of 'Silent Night'

When I was in Vietnam in 1965 in the 1st Infantry Division, when Christmas Eve came, some of us got together and sang two songs, the first one was the ever famous, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas, If Only in My Dreams,” and then "Silent Night” — a story of which follows. 

In 1818, a young priest, Joseph Mohr, priest of St. Nicolas Church, looked out over the snow-covered countryside of Obendorf, Austria (north of Salzburg) and had deep moving thoughts. He wanted to put them to music for the Christmas midnight Mass. His friend, Franz Gruber, then wrote the lyrics. At midnight Mass, the priest, Father Mohr, played the guitar and both he and Franz Gruber sang the song, “Stille Nacht.” You know it as “Silent Night.” 

“Stille nacht, heilige nacht 

Alles  schlaft, einsom wacht 

Nur das trate, hei lege parr 

Holder knabe, in lockingen harr 

Schlaf in himmlicher ruhe 

Schlaf in himmlicher  ruhe” 

We have visited Obendorf, Austria. The original church was burned down, but they built a chapel there in place of it. Very nice and moving and as an Austrian, I am naturally proud of this song.