Released Today! 'Silent Night' - 2025 Christmas Card Video

‘Peace’ – this precious word has led so many holy messages through the centuries.  Saint Therese of Lisieux implores us “Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.”  “Peace be with you all!” were the first words to the world from Pope Leo XIV, as he stepped out onto the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica following his election in May 2025.  And of course, Jesus’ first words to his terrified disciples following his resurrection were ‘Peace be with you’.

Peace – the Peace of Christ – is the theme of this year’s Christmas Card video, ‘Silent Night’.  Perhaps the most famous of all Christmas carols, Silent Night was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in Austria, and was performed for the first time by Gruber and Mohr themselves in their small local church at midnight mass on Christmas 1818.  The song was written following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and it looked forward to a period of peace in a nation devastated by conflict and hoping to rebuild. 

Conflict and peace often seem to be the unfortunate pattern of human life, not just between countries, but so often between friends and families.  Especially at this time of year, many of us yearn to give and to share dialogue, reconciliation, forgiveness, love – and peace.  We yearn for the peace that the birth of Jesus brought into the world on that Silent Night.

Our Rising Faith rendition features an intimate vocal performance by Ray Very,  and invites us to reflect on our blessings and how each of us can bring about peace – in our own lives and in the lives of those close to us.   May we remember the words of Saint Theresa of Calcutta who tells us ‘"The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace”.

May you be inspired by this video and music to bring the Peace of Christ into your life, to your families, and to the world.