Today’s hymn is from Theodulph of Orleans, written roughly 820. Charlemagne brought him from Spain to help him build schools and reform the clergy, where he also started to write hymns. Theodulph got caught up in a family dispute between Charlemagne’s son King Louis and Louis’s nephew King Bernard of Italy, where Louis thought he was conspiring with Bernard. He was then thrown into prison where he wrote the 78(!) verses of this hymn. It is said that King Louis freed Theodulph upon hearing him sing this hymn from outside the prison window. This hymn was then translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale in 1854, who became part of a moment that researched Roman liturgy and hymnody for English use. Other hymns he translated were “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”, and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”¹. Enjoy!

All glory, laud, and honour
To Thee, Redeemer, King!
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet Hosannas ring,

Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David’s Royal Son,
Who in the LORD’S name comest,`
The King and Blessèd One.

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went
Our praise and prayers and anthems
Before Thee we present.

To Thee before Thy Passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

¹ page 79 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church