All Glory Laud and Honor

May 24, 2023 Cameron Frank

History

Though first translated into English by John M. Neale in the 1850s, the roots of this hymn trace much farther back, all the way to Charlemagne's courts in the ninth century.

Theodulph of Orleans was a Spanish refugee who became the bishop of Orleans after earning Charlemagne's favor. He loved serving the church, writing poems, sermons, and theological treatises. He was an advocate for education and church reform, and held a strong stance against the use of icons by the church.

When Charlemagne died in 814, his empire became the center of a territorial fight among his heirs. Eventually, his son Louis the Pious rose as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Fraught with paranoia, jealousy, and a penchant for pettiness, Louis stifled any rumor of opposition to his rule. It was in this fearful atmosphere that he first suspected Theodulph of conspiring with an Italian rival.

In 818, Louis removed Theodulf from office and imprisoned him in Angers, France, for conspiring against the throne. Two years later, while meditating on Palm Sunday and the triumphal entry of Jesus, Theodulf wrote the words to this hymn, a song proclaiming "Hosanna," just as those gathered who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem.

There is a legend that Louis the Pious himself was in a processional some Palm Sunday when he happened to pass by the prison where Theodulf was held. When the processional stopped for a moment, all could hear the melodic Latin chanting from the tower of the prison, singing praise to Jesus. The story goes that Louis demanded to know who was singing, and was shocked to find his very own prisoner, Theodulf of Orleans as the songwriter and vocalist. He set the man free on the spot and decreed that all would sing that song each Palm Sunday as a part of their processional rites.

While it is a nice story that leaves a much happier ending, the truth is likely more solemn. There is no evidence that Louis ever visited Angers after 818, when Theodulf was imprisoned. Most historical evidence points to Theodulf dying in prison after four years, never again experiencing the freedom or liberties he once knew.

Devotion

I think it's interesting that the same atmosphere of suspicion and lust for power that earned Theodulf a prison sentence is the same attitude that ultimately led to Jesus being despised by the leaders of his day. It's either irony or design, but Theodulf would become most known for this hymn which celebrates the triumphal entry of a King—not to overthrow any earthly throne, but to unseat death itself.

Many of the songs of praise for this section of the book point to Jesus, even though we're focusing on the Father. This side of the cross, we find ourselves thankful for much—obviously we trust God's provision every single day, but for the believer, everything points to Jesus.

All of our worship is made possible through Jesus and what He did on the cross for us. In the face of injustice and political strife, Christ bore our sins and put and end to death. It's impossible to separate our worship of God today from the truth and impact of the gospel.

The gospel reminds us that even through all the injustice and trials that we go through each and every day, we can find reason to worship. The reality is that we all find ourselves behind some kind of prison walls at some point, whether from social or societal pressures, addiction, bad decisions, or by falling victim to our own overthinking.

But Jesus is bigger than our boundaries. Though our problems seem huge and insurmountable (and we often have every reason to feel that way), Jesus is bigger. And when He marched into Jerusalem on an unassuming colt over 2000 years ago, it was the start of a journey that would ultimately break every chain. It's for that freedom that we raise the melody of hosanna. In fact, the word "hosanna" itself means "save, I pray."

Make that your prayer today—ask Jesus to save you from whatever bondage is keeping you weighed down.

Related Scripture

Psalm 24:7-10; Matthew 21:1-11