Joseph Habedank - Silent Night Lyrics
Lyrics
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Video
Silent Night
Meaning & Inspiration
Joseph Habedank's rendition of "Silent Night," released on November 11, 2016, as part of the album *Silent Night: Christmas for Quiet Reflection*, offers a profoundly moving interpretation of this timeless carol. The familiar imagery of that first Christmas Eve, a night so often depicted with a hushed reverence, is amplified here, drawing listeners into the deep spiritual significance of the event. Habedank’s performance centers the listener on the miraculous stillness that enveloped Bethlehem, a stillness shattered only by the celestial announcement of the Savior's birth. The lyrics themselves evoke a sense of wonder and awe, describing the tranquil scene around Mary and the infant Jesus, a "tender and mild" Son of God, whose arrival signaled a divine peace. This peace is not merely an absence of earthly turmoil, but the profound "heavenly peace" that only Christ can bring, a peace that transcends human understanding, as Paul writes in Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
The song masterfully shifts focus from the quiet intimacy of the manger to the overwhelming glory revealed to the shepherds. The text describes their apprehension at the "sight" of angelic hosts proclaiming the birth, a moment of divine interruption that would surely inspire awe. This heavenly multitude singing "Alleluia" underscores the monumental significance of this moment, the advent of God incarnate. It's a confirmation of what was prophesied, that a child born in Bethlehem would be the "Savior," fulfilling the promise of redemption. The lyrics beautifully articulate this, calling Jesus the "Son of God, love's pure light," whose face radiated a "redeeming grace." This radiant light is the light of the world, as Jesus Himself declared in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." The song’s emphasis on this "redeeming grace" points directly to the redemptive work Jesus would accomplish through His life, death, and resurrection, a gift of immense love offered to all humanity. Habedank’s focus on the message, allowing the sacred narrative to resonate, invites a deep contemplation of the Incarnation not just as a historical event, but as a pivotal moment in God's unfolding plan for salvation, bringing that "heavenly peace" to a world desperately in need of it.