Josef Mohr

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Josef Mohr (December 11, 1792 - December 4, 1848) was an Austrian priest and composer, who wrote the words to the Christmas carol "Silent Night".

[edit] Biography

Joseph Francis Mohr was born in Salzburg on December 11, 1792, to an unmarried embroiderer, Anna Schoiberin, and a mercenary soldier, Franz Mohr who deserted the army and Joseph's mother before the birth.

As his musical talent was recognized, he found a sponsor to set him upon the path to higher education. As an illegitimate child he needed the pope's special permission to become a priest in 1815. Rev. Mohr was sent to a pilgrim church in the remote Alpine village of Mariapfarr, where in 1816 he wrote a six-stanza poem that was to become the world's most popular carol. Mohr was moved to Oberndorf in 1817 to stay there for two years. When Franz Gruber agreed to compose a melody and guitar arrangement for the poem to be sung at midnight mass on December 24, 1818, 'Silent Night' was born. Only years later the song became popular. Mohr, a generous man who donated money to charity, was moved from place to place and finally became parish pastor in Wagrain, where he initiated a new school for the children there. He also created a fund to allow children from poor families to attend school.

Father Mohr died of a pulmonary disease on December 4, 1848. The village school is named after him and his grave has been kept in a place of honor in the nearby churchyard cemetery. An outdoor exhibit detailing the life of Joseph Mohr is situated on the walkway between the church and the parish house where he once lived.