All My Heart Again Rejoices
All my heart again rejoices as I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices
All My Heart Again Rejoices is a hymn text by Paul Gerhardt; tr. Catherine Winkworth (1653) in 5.8.5.7.8.8.7 meter. Found in CW21 329, CW93 37, ELH 115, elw 273. Sung to WARUM SOLLT ICH.
One of the most joyful of all Christmas hymns, expressing the believer's exuberant response to the news of Christ's birth. The fifteen original stanzas cover the full scope of Christmas theology; the standard version uses five or six. The Christmas gospel is presented as the antidote to all human fear and sorrow.
History & Background
Written by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) as Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen in 1653. Translated into English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) in 1858. One of Gerhardt's greatest Christmas hymns, full of exuberant joy.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 329
- Christian Worship — 37
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 115
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 273
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 46
- Lutheran Service Book — 360
Bulletin Note
All My Heart Again Rejoices — Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Preaching Connection
The joy of Christmas as the answer to human fear and sorrow.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From questioning suffering to confident trust in God's providential care and faithfulness
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Christmas Day (2×)
- Christmas Midnight (2×)
- Christmas 1 (1×)
- Holy Innocents (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Christmas Eve (3×)
- Christmas Midnight (2×)
- Christmas 1 (1×)
- Christmas Day (1×)
- St. Michael and All Angels (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Themes
Christmas Joy Gerhardt Incarnation