This hymn is traditionally the favorite for Palm Sunday, but what most people do not know is that it was written in 820 AD, 1200 years ago, in France. The original hymn had 38 verses, but that was far too much for congregations at the time. In great relief back then, congregations traditionally only sang…19 verses.

But now onto the hymn’s remarkable history. “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” was written by Bishop Theodulph of Orléans, in France. The Bishop had been a personal friend of Emperor Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire, who united most of western Europe under his throne. Charlemagne had requested Theodulph to move to France from his home in Spain to serve as a church leader. He was a brilliant man who worked hard to reform the clergy. The Emperor and Bishop became close friends, consulting with each other regularly. As a result, the Bishop became a powerful person in the country.

Upon Charlemagne’s death, his son and successor, Louis I, without any honest reason, immediately incarcerated the Bishop into prison on Easter Sunday, 818 AD. Louis felt that the Bishop had become too powerful for him to control, so he fraudulently claimed that the Bishop had been planning to conspire against him. 

Here was this fine person, Bishop Theodulph, living in prison in dreadful circumstances, who was completely isolated for over a year. But he was an inspired person who would not let these negative circumstances affect his faith and positive spirit. In his early days in prison, he immediately wrote the words to this beloved hymn and sang them over and over every day.

Can you imagine a person who had been wrongly imprisoned, and who was living in miserable circumstances, who would still have the courage and faith to write these words…

Thou didst accept their praises; accept the praise we bring,

Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King.

A year later, Louis I happened to walk past the Bishop’s cell in a monastery. By chance, Louis happened to hear the Bishop singing his hymn, “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”. Louis was so deeply moved that he immediately ordered the Bishop’s release.

What can be learned from this history? When life is hard, hold your head up, put a smile on your face, and stay inspired with positive thoughts.