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What Christmas Hymn is a
Multi-Friar Favorite?
For the first time in Franciscan TV history, the Franciscan Friars of the Order of Friars Minor have curated two Christmas playlists: Cherished Christmas Songs – Friars’ Favorites! and Beloved Christmas Hymns – Friars’ Favorites!
In all, thirty-four friars picked their favorite hymns and songs and, without consulting each other or sharing Christmas tune intel, four picked “Little Drummer Boy,” making it the most popular song on its playlist, and thirteen picked “O Holy Night” as their favorite hymn.
A popular hymn is hardly newsworthy, but did you know that “O Holy Night” is a song that made history before being chosen by 38.2% of our 34 friars?
“O Holy Night” was the first piece of music in history to be broadcast on the radio. On December 24, 1906, inventor Reginald Fessenden played the hymn on his violin from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, for an audience of ship radio operators along the Atlantic coast.
The broadcast included Fessenden’s rendition of “O Holy Night” and a reading of the Nativity story from the Book of Luke. It was the first time music and voice were transmitted over the airwaves—an event many listeners deemed a miracle!
This history-making hymn is also renowned for its dramatic build of anticipation, its emotional message of hope and redemption, its challenging vocal passages, and its powerful climax. It’s no wonder that “O Holy Night” is friar favorite!
Discover what “O Holy Night” means to these four friars in this month’s edition of “Franciscan Faces.”
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- Bro. George Camacho, OFM
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- Bro. Matt Ryan, OFM
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- Bro. Ron Walters, OFM
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- Bro. Michael W. Hill, OFM
Franciscan TV would like to thank all of our friar Christmas playlist curators for making kindness and service to God’s poor a ‘habit’ in all seasons, and for sharing their favorite Christmas hymns and songs.
Beloved Christmas Hymns – Friars’ Favorites! and Cherished Christmas Songs – Friars’ Favorites! are spreading Christmas joy at Franciscan TV, Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music. Have a Merry Christmas!
