In the tiny parish of St. Nicholas in the Austrian village of Oberndorf, the townspeople would look forward to the beautiful Midnight Mass and to the carols they would sing, accompanied by their beloved church organ. However, in the year 1818, just a few days before Christmas, the old organ broke down.

The parishioners were very upset by this turn of events, but it was impossible to make the necessary repairs in time for midnight Mass. The mass would have to be celebrated without the traditional organ music.

Knowing nothing could be done about the old organ, Franz Gruber, the organist, asked the parish priest, Fr. Josef Mohr, for permission to use a guitar at Mass. The organist explained how they would needs some type of instrumental accompaniment. Of course, it couldn’t truly replace the sound of their beloved organ, but there was nothing else to be done. A disheartened Fr. Mohr agreed and gave his permission for Franz to make the necessary changes.

However, there was a slight problem with this new arrangement. None of the complicated melodies played on the organ were easily modified to the simple chords of a guitar. To everyone’s disappointment, this of course would mean that - in the end - the carols would still need to be sung without any music. There just was not enough time to simplify the notes of the organ’s sheet music.

The organist was at a loss. He explained this new unforeseen difficulty to his pastor. Fr. Mohr thought a moment. Then he received an inspiration. He mentioned to Franz that he had been working on a Christmas poem. It was a modest bit of poetry, with only 26 words and a simple rhyme structure. But perhaps, if set to simple notes, it could work with the guitar.

With everyone’s prayers behind him, the organist went to work. Shortly before Christmas, Franz had completed his melody, little guessing that Heaven had just blessed their hardship and work with a beloved carol that would one day be renowned world-wide.

That midnight Mass, the people of St. Nicholas listened to the first "Silent Night."