With Father Christopher Jamison, a Benedictine Monk

"Carols are everywhere at this time of the year. Carols are the living sound of Christmas and they invite us into the heart of this thrilling season. Do you have a favourite Chris? I love Silent Night not only because it’s beautiful but also because of the story around its composition. One Xmas Eve in an Austrian village, the local priest had a problem; the organ in his church had broken down. So he dug up a Xmas poem he’d written the previous year, took down his guitar and rushed to see the local school teacher. Between them, they composed the now famous tune to be accompanied by simple guitar chords and performed it that night, a triumph of making do. Xmas rarely goes according to plan and something beautiful can emerge if we respond spontaneously and creatively. Making plans is good but making do is even better. Then there are the words of Silent Night. ‘All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin tender and mild’ goes the English version; the original German is darker: ‘All are asleep; alone and awake only the intimate, holy couple.’ Quite a difference between ‘all is bright round yon virgin’ and the unsentimental thought that Mary and Joseph are awake with worry. Some of us have a lot to worry about and Christmas celebrations can seem unreal by comparison. So we need to remember that worry is part of the story. There was an unfriendly inn keeper and a dirty stable but love still shines out of the manger. As the original Silent Night says ‘Son of God, O how he laughs, Love from your divine mouth.’ In spite of appearances, life is friendly. So I hope that this Christmas we can all make do, see the bigger picture and be truly happy."