Henry Wadswroth Longfellow had endured much sorrow in his life. In 1861 his wife died in a tragic fire. The same year the Civil War broke out and two years later his son was seriously wounded. Sitting at his desk on Christmas Day he heard church bells ringing and in this setting wrote the following poem.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep.
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men!"

 

There is something so magical about the sound of church bells. I live just down the block from a lovely Catholic Church and at certain times I'll be sitting at my computer, or doing any manner of things around the house, when out of nowhere the pealing of beautiful bells comes streaming in through my window.

And on Christmas day...ah, it is magnificent. The bells will peal, and then ring out a string of beautiful Christmas Carols. No matter what the weather, suddenly the city is sparkling and it seems all of heaven is rejoicing.

The world today is also at a precarious time. There is much suffering in the world and still so much hatred. Yet with the tolling of the bells, we are again reminded that Love prevails and regain the hope that 'Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men' will finally fill the hearts of all the world, maybe, just may be this year.