All Glory, Laud, and Honor!

It's Palm Sunday this weekend, which means it's time to dust off the great hymn "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" to sing as our opening hymn. I'll be playing a modern, multi-tonal arrangement of it as the postlude as well.

It's one of the great hymns of faith, and the tune has been around for hundred of years. The text, however, is even older - among the oldest in the hymnal. The author Theodulph of Orleans was a French bishop during the time of Charlemagne.

Political accusations and suspicions landed him in prison, and it was from inside a prison cell that he wrote the original Latin text of praise. My favorite verse is the final one, where God is referred to as a great author. It's reminiscent of the Gospel of John, and the symbolism of God as a creator, artist, and author can inspire us to raise our voices in song:

ELW 344, verse 5:

Their praises you accepted;

Accept the prayers we bring,

Great author of all goodness,

O good and gracious King.