Design Notes: Silent Night
May you carry the peace and joy of Christmas with you today and throughout the New Year!

This drawing for the parish church, St. Sebastian in Ramsau, Germany, was created by Douglas Lasch. The church was built in 1512 under provost Gregor Rainer and was extended in 1692. It has a baroque onion shaped tower which is covered with wooden shingles.

Josephus Franciscus Mohr was an Austrian Roman Catholic priest and writer, who created the poem that became the lyrics to the Christmas carol “Silent Night” in 1816. Fr. Mohr provided temporary help in the village of Ramsau, Germany in the fall of 1815 and the serene setting of St. Sebastian church may have provided inspiration for the poem.