I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Hymn of the Day
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Based on: Micah 5:5
“And this one shall be peace.”
“And this one shall be peace.”
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play.
And wild and sweet the words repeat of
'Peace on Earth, Good will to men!'
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song of
'Peace on Earth, goodwill to men!'
Then in despair, I bowed my head,
"There is no peace on earth", I said,
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song of
'Peace on Earth, goodwill to men!'
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with
'Peace on Earth, goodwill to men!'"
‘Til ringing, singing on its way
The world revolves from night to day.
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of
“Peace on Earth, Good will to men!”
The world revolves from night to day.
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of
“Peace on Earth, Good will to men!”
Meditation - “Then Pealed the Bells”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this lovely Christmas carol at the turn of the nineteenth century. It is one of only a few written by the great poet. The phrase “Peace on Earth, Good will to men” inspired this poem. The New England poet truly believed that God was powerful and strong enough to overcome the strife on Earth and had vision far beyond his time to a day when all nations would live together in peace.
We seldom think of Longfellow as a hymnwriter because, at the mention of his name, we almost immediately think of poetry such as “The Village Smithy”, “The Chestnut Tree”, “Three Doors Left Unguarded”, and the stair clock tirelessly ticking away “Forever - Never! Never – Forever!”
This hymn was written by Longfellow at a time when he was deeply troubled by thoughts of peace and events of the Civil War (Christmas, 1863). The Civil War in the United States was at its climax, and the country was in the midst of bloody turmoil. Longfellow’s concern is evident in every stanza of the hymn with his repetition of the “Peace on Earth, Good will to men!” phrase closing out each stanza. Since he was considered the most influential poet of his day, Longfellow brought fresh courage and renewed faith to many of his countrymen who read this poem.
It had seven stanzas originally and was titled “Christmas Bells”. References to the Civil War are prevalent in the verses that are currently omitted from our hymnals, much more so than in the verses that have been retained. What is left, and what is so clearly expressed in the five current verses, is that God is still in charge and in command, and in His own time He will cause the right to triumph. The beautiful, chiming bells of Christmas reassure us of this important truth. Listen for them throughout the season.
It was eighteen years after he wrote this poem that Longfellow’s personal peace was again completely shattered. His second wife, to whom he was deeply devoted, was tragically burned in a fire. He was completely and totally devastated by her death. He continued to write throughout the rest of his life, creating some of his greatest works during this period of immense personal crisis and grief.
Longfellow was born in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Bowdoin College, and spent six years as a Professor there before getting a position as Professor of Modern language at Harvard University. He was a Unitarian, but maintained a strong belief in God’s goodness and personal concern for His people. Following his death, his bust was placed in the Poet’s Corner of London’s Westminster Abbey as one of its immortal American writers.
The sole message of this carol, then, is the peace and good will about which the angels sang.
No other aspects of the nativity story are mentioned at all, either directly or implied . . . no references to the birth, to Mary or Joseph, to the manger or Bethlehem, shepherds or angels . . . wise men or gifts, etc. There is also a glaring lack of historical reference . . . only the implication of the historical significance of the birth of Jesus.
He wrote the hymn in the first person, giving it quite an unusual style in which to express his thoughts, feelings and responses to the Civil War and the lack of peace he felt so keenly. He placed the Christmas story into his own personal lifetime. Peace and good will are lamented for their absence from the society of his day - - - absent and sorely “missed”.
I can understand Longfellow’s sadness and
his concern about the lack of peace he found in the society in which he lived. I have had
times in my own life when thoughts of peace weighed heavily on my mind and heart. I have had those times when I have bowed before
God and said, “there is no peace anywhere”.
I have longed for that peace which passes understanding, and yet found it to be ever elusive, and I have cried out to God. I know first-hand how life’s experiences can shatter
the peace of one’s soul. I believe, however, as did Longfellow, that the bells are pealing loudly and deeply that God is NOT dead nor is He asleep, and that wrong will fail and right will prevail, and that “Peace on earth, Good will to men!” will indeed come to pass. I believe that God will bring about His Kingdom in which there will be that “chant sublime” of “Peace on Earth, Good will to men!”
What do you believe?
Prayer - Dear God, we thank You for redeeming our sinful world and for bringing peace into our hearts. We are often at war with each other and within ourselves and feel the absence of peace, but you have sent us your Son, the Prince of Peace, to restore our calm and allow us to live in peace and harmony with each other and within ourselves. Make us instruments of your peace to all others with whom we may come into contact, for we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen~
Activity - Go star-gazing tonight! For whatever reason wind is not much of a factor on winter nights, so the main “element” to be dealt with is cold. If you can, pretend it’s completely natural to be outdoors now. Think about what winter feels like to you. As you observe the night sky around you, think of the Nativity story. Imagine yourself one of the shepherds on the hillside who saw the bright new star. Remember special childhood experiences of winter. Make sure to dress for the weather, and don’t stay out too long in the cold. Remember that the days will soon be getting longer!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this lovely Christmas carol at the turn of the nineteenth century. It is one of only a few written by the great poet. The phrase “Peace on Earth, Good will to men” inspired this poem. The New England poet truly believed that God was powerful and strong enough to overcome the strife on Earth and had vision far beyond his time to a day when all nations would live together in peace.
We seldom think of Longfellow as a hymnwriter because, at the mention of his name, we almost immediately think of poetry such as “The Village Smithy”, “The Chestnut Tree”, “Three Doors Left Unguarded”, and the stair clock tirelessly ticking away “Forever - Never! Never – Forever!”
This hymn was written by Longfellow at a time when he was deeply troubled by thoughts of peace and events of the Civil War (Christmas, 1863). The Civil War in the United States was at its climax, and the country was in the midst of bloody turmoil. Longfellow’s concern is evident in every stanza of the hymn with his repetition of the “Peace on Earth, Good will to men!” phrase closing out each stanza. Since he was considered the most influential poet of his day, Longfellow brought fresh courage and renewed faith to many of his countrymen who read this poem.
It had seven stanzas originally and was titled “Christmas Bells”. References to the Civil War are prevalent in the verses that are currently omitted from our hymnals, much more so than in the verses that have been retained. What is left, and what is so clearly expressed in the five current verses, is that God is still in charge and in command, and in His own time He will cause the right to triumph. The beautiful, chiming bells of Christmas reassure us of this important truth. Listen for them throughout the season.
It was eighteen years after he wrote this poem that Longfellow’s personal peace was again completely shattered. His second wife, to whom he was deeply devoted, was tragically burned in a fire. He was completely and totally devastated by her death. He continued to write throughout the rest of his life, creating some of his greatest works during this period of immense personal crisis and grief.
Longfellow was born in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Bowdoin College, and spent six years as a Professor there before getting a position as Professor of Modern language at Harvard University. He was a Unitarian, but maintained a strong belief in God’s goodness and personal concern for His people. Following his death, his bust was placed in the Poet’s Corner of London’s Westminster Abbey as one of its immortal American writers.
The sole message of this carol, then, is the peace and good will about which the angels sang.
No other aspects of the nativity story are mentioned at all, either directly or implied . . . no references to the birth, to Mary or Joseph, to the manger or Bethlehem, shepherds or angels . . . wise men or gifts, etc. There is also a glaring lack of historical reference . . . only the implication of the historical significance of the birth of Jesus.
He wrote the hymn in the first person, giving it quite an unusual style in which to express his thoughts, feelings and responses to the Civil War and the lack of peace he felt so keenly. He placed the Christmas story into his own personal lifetime. Peace and good will are lamented for their absence from the society of his day - - - absent and sorely “missed”.
I can understand Longfellow’s sadness and
his concern about the lack of peace he found in the society in which he lived. I have had
times in my own life when thoughts of peace weighed heavily on my mind and heart. I have had those times when I have bowed before
God and said, “there is no peace anywhere”.
I have longed for that peace which passes understanding, and yet found it to be ever elusive, and I have cried out to God. I know first-hand how life’s experiences can shatter
the peace of one’s soul. I believe, however, as did Longfellow, that the bells are pealing loudly and deeply that God is NOT dead nor is He asleep, and that wrong will fail and right will prevail, and that “Peace on earth, Good will to men!” will indeed come to pass. I believe that God will bring about His Kingdom in which there will be that “chant sublime” of “Peace on Earth, Good will to men!”
What do you believe?
Prayer - Dear God, we thank You for redeeming our sinful world and for bringing peace into our hearts. We are often at war with each other and within ourselves and feel the absence of peace, but you have sent us your Son, the Prince of Peace, to restore our calm and allow us to live in peace and harmony with each other and within ourselves. Make us instruments of your peace to all others with whom we may come into contact, for we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen~
Activity - Go star-gazing tonight! For whatever reason wind is not much of a factor on winter nights, so the main “element” to be dealt with is cold. If you can, pretend it’s completely natural to be outdoors now. Think about what winter feels like to you. As you observe the night sky around you, think of the Nativity story. Imagine yourself one of the shepherds on the hillside who saw the bright new star. Remember special childhood experiences of winter. Make sure to dress for the weather, and don’t stay out too long in the cold. Remember that the days will soon be getting longer!
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