A Mysterious and Holy Night in Massachusetts

Vincent van Gogh: Starry Night

I confess that there are little towns in Massachusetts with which I have little or no familiarity. Brant Rock is one such town. Located on the coast, it is one of the villages of Marshfield, Massachusetts.

Our story takes place in Brant Rock. The year was 1906. It was December 24, Christmas Eve. An event was about to take place that had never before occurred in all of history. Considering the night, it could almost be considered miraculous.

As always, the United States Navy was on patrol in the Atlantic, and, Christmas Eve or not, commerce continued as ships from the United Fruit Company carried their cargo. Radio operators were at their stations as ships communicated with each other with the rapid DIT DAH DIT of Morse code.

No doubt many of the crew on the ships that night had their minds on thoughts of home and family and Christmas. One can imagine the pervasive aura of melancholy surrounding the men.

The radio operators began to notice some type of interference in their communications. The Morse code was being superseded by another sound. They could not believe their ears. It was violin music! The tune was a familiar one.

A voice was then heard along with the violin:

Peuple à genoux,
Attends ta délivrance!
Noël! Noël!
Voici le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël!
Voici le Rédempteur!

Fall on your knees!
Oh, hear the angels' voices!
Oh night divine,
Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine,
Oh night, Oh night Divine.

This was followed by spoken words: "Glory to God in the highest — and on earth peace to men of good will. Merry Christmas.”

Then all communications returned to normal. Men in ships as far south as Norfolk, Virginia, heard this.

On that night in the village of Brant Rock on the Massachusetts shore, Canadian Reginald Fessenden along with his wife, his secretary, and his associate, gathered at a little radio station he had built. History was made that night. Mr. Fessenden played his violin and sang the first Christmas carol ever broadcast.

On this Christmas Eve 2011 that same song will be sung in every nation as a “thrill of hope” to a weary world.

Joyeux Noël!

Merry Christmas!

©2011