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--> --> A treat for Silent Night By Jeff Cheek Many people know that a Catholic priest, Josehp Mohr, wrote the classic Christmas hymn "Silent Night." Few know his painful history, or the chocolate treat he invented for the children who sang in his Children's Choir. It is a story as old as time. His mother, Anna Schoiberin, was a maid and seamstress. She fell in love with a dashing musketeer named Mohr. When she got pregnant, Mohr deserted her. When the child was born on Dec. 11, 1792, she named him Joseph Mohr. Being a single mother in Austria in 1792 was difficult, but there was one ray of sunshine in her drab existence: Her son Joseph. He was handsome, intelligent, cheerful and a gifted musician. He learned to play the violin, organ and guitar. At the age of 10, we was going into the berrhalls of Salzburg, singing for the few pennies the patrons gave him. Every penny went to help his hard-working mother. She could not afford to educate her son, but Father Johann Hiernle arranged for the community to sponsor Joseph through the Seminary at Salzburg. He was ordained Aug. 21, 1815. Soon after, he was sent to the Church of St. Nicola, in Oberndorf, Austria as an assistant to Father Nostler. Joseph's duties were to work with the young people, and to oversee the musical program. Then on Dec. 24, 1818, disaster struck. Rats had eaten part of the organ's bellows. It would be weeks before it could be repaired. Father Mohr sat down to write some special program to compensate for the silent organ. He later said that some hand seemed to guide him as he wrote. When the organist, Franz Gruber, arrived, Gruber began to wtite the music for the poem, but it did not work. Then he thought: This is not a hymn, it is a lullaby, like the one the Virgin Mary probably sang to her baby, Jesus. Within minutes, the score was completed and he and Father Joseph played it through, using two guitars instead of the organ. It was ready when the Children's Choir, six little boys and six girls, arrived for choir practice. They were never late as Father Mohr always fixed them a chocolate treat. On Christmas Day, Father Nostler officiated at mass, but the Children's Choir sang "Silent Night," accompanied by two guitars. The song was almost lost to posterity, as Father Mohr was soon assigned a poor parish in Wagrain. A single copy was found, weeks later, abandoned in the closet of his room. It was not printed in a hymnal until 1840. Franz Gruber continued as organist at St. Nicola's for many years. He married and fathered 12 children, dying in Hallein, Austria in 1865 at the age of 78. By that time, the world had realized the genius of his musical score, and he received his much-deserved acclaim. Father Mohr was not so fortunate. Wagrain was a poor parish, but he brought his musical gifts to his flock and was famous for his love and charity for the poor farmers he served. His death was proof of this. He walked through a snow storm to administer Last Rites to a dying farm wife. He caught pnemonia and died in the winter of 1848. All he left was his Bible, prayer book, a patched soutane and the most beautiful Christmas carol ever written, "Silent Night." The chocolate sandwich he made for the children follows: Ingredients: 2 slices white bread 2 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate Melted butter Currant jelly Preparation: Toast bread, brush with melted butter, trim crust and set aside. Melt chocoate in a small pan in boiling water. Spread chocolate on toast, let it cool and harden, then add layer of currant jelly. Slice toast in half, fold over to make a jelly centered chocolate treat. Jeff Cheek lives in Medford. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing