Hymn of the Week: “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

All glory, laud, and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

“All Glory, Laud, and Honor” is a 9th-century hymn that is traditionally sung on Palm Sunday, as well as on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The text was written by Theodulf, Bishop of Orléans, while he was imprisoned as a suspected conspirator against the life of King Louis the Pious.

There is a 16th-century story, most likely apocryphal, which says that during a Palm Sunday procession, King Louis passed the window of Theodulf’s cell only to hear the imprisoned bishop singing this hymn. The legend states that King Louis was so touched by the hymn that he released Theodulf and decreed that “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” be sung at all subsequent Palm Sunday celebrations.

The melody to which “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” is usually sung is called “St. Theodulf,” because of its association with this text. It was written by Melchior Teschner in the 16th century.