Silent Night

December 6, 2023
Devotional by: Jim Malanowski

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

My dad wasn't what I would call a 'devout' Catholic. That night, Christmas Eve, he relaxed in his easy chair, ironically leaning into his birthday the next day.

In the meantime, my mom, my older sister, and I dutifully went to midnight mass. While we were in the church, unbeknownst to us, napkin-sized snowflakes started to fall outside.

After church, as we trudged the short distance down the street to our home, with the huge snowflakes continuing to waft down around us, the streetlight seemed to illuminate each flake.

The only sound was the fresh snow crunching under our feet and the cars quietly whirring by as they struggled to move through the wet, new snow.

Moved by the mass that we'd just attended, the beautiful scene around us, and the Christmas warmth we shared, my mom spontaneously broke into a quiet, then as we joined her, a louder, rendition of "Silent Night".

As we sang, a sense of peace fell over us. It was palpable. That was truly one of the most memorable Christmas moments of my life; and one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It was a moment that will always make "Silent Night" my favorite Christmas carol.

Prayer: Lord, Grant us Peace...Your Peace...not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives.