For All Thy Saints O Lord
For all thy saints O Lord
For All Thy Saints O Lord is a hymn text by Latimer Humphreys (1864) in L.M. meter. Found in CW93 555, elw 425, lbw 176, lw 195. Sung to ST. MICHAEL.
This hymn celebrates the Lutheran understanding of the communion of saints, affirming the faithful witness of those who have died in Christ and their continued fellowship with the Church Militant. It reflects the Reformation emphasis on the assurance of salvation and the promise of resurrection through Christ.
History & Background
Written by English clergyman Latimer Humphreys in 1864, this All Saints hymn was first published in his collection. It has been widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals as an appropriate text for All Saints' Day commemoration and funeral services.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 555
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 425
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 176
- Lutheran Worship — 195
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 468
Bulletin Note
Latimer Humphreys composed this hymn in 1864 for All Saints' Day. Set to the sturdy tune ST. MICHAEL, it expresses the Lutheran confidence in Christ's redemption extending to all the faithful, living and departed.
Preaching Connection
This hymn proclaims the Gospel consolation of the resurrection promise while challenging us to faithful witness, making it a powerful response to preaching on perseverance in faith or the communion of saints.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Commemoration of saints' faithful witness → Rest from earthly labor → Perseverance in faith → Universal inheritance through Christ
Background Research
Richard Mant (1776–1848), born at Southampton. He was educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Oxford, Fellow of Oriel and Bampton Lecturer (1811), Vicar of Coggeshall, chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, then Bishop of Killaloe (1820), Down and Connor (1823) and Dromore (1842). The hymn is from his Ancient Hymns from the Roman Breviary (1837), where Julian calls it 'an original hymn given with his translations', titled 'Hymn on All Saints', six 4-line stanzas. The four-stanza form now usual comes from the SPCK Hymns (1852). Hymns Ancient & Modern (1861) adapted it into 'For thy dear saint, O Lord' for individual saints' days, with other variants. Theme: thanks for the saints who 'toiled and fought', 'like them to win', the communion of saints (Heb 12:1) without invocation of the saints, fitting Lutheran use. Tunes: ST. MICHAEL (Genevan), MOUNT EPHRAIM, ST. HELENA (Milgrove 1769).
Sources: hymnary.org 'For all Thy saints, O Lord' (citing Julian).
Overview
A short hymn for saints' days by Richard Mant, Anglican bishop in Ireland. It thanks God for all his saints who strove to live (st. 1) and to die in him, counting him their reward (st. 2); confesses that they learned 'to suffer and to do' by the Spirit's breath (st. 3); and prays that we may follow them in holiness and live and die in Christ (st. 4). It honors the saints exactly as the Augsburg Confession and Apology recommend: thanksgiving to God for them, and imitation of their faith — with no invocation.
Central theme: Thanksgiving to God for his saints, whose faith and life were his Spirit's work, and prayer to follow them
Structure
Four short-meter quatrains. Thanks for their life (1) — and death (2) — the Spirit's work in them (3) — prayer to follow (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel: the saints' life and endurance are the Spirit's gift (3); we pray to 'live and die in Thee' (4).
Confessional Connections
AC XXI: 'the remembrance of the saints may be set before us, that we may follow their faith and good works, according to our calling… But the Scripture does not teach the invocation of saints.' Ap XXI.4-7 names three honors: thanksgiving to God for the saints as examples of his mercy, strengthening of our faith, and imitation of their faith and virtues. St. 1-2 = thanksgiving; st. 3 = God's grace in them; st. 4 = imitation. The prayer is addressed only to God.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
All Saints' Day; apostles' and martyrs' days; commemorations; funerals.
Historical Notes
Mant (1776-1848), Bishop of Down and Connor, wrote and translated many hymns for the Church year (1837).
About the Tune
TLH: ENERGY (William H. Monk, 1861). Row 429 lists FESTAL SONG.
Scripture References
Rev 7:15 Heb 11 Heb 12:1-2 Heb 13:7 Phil 1:21 Rev 14:13 Gen 15:1 Gal 5:25 Rom 8:14 2 Tim 3:12 Eph 2:10 1 Cor 11:1 Rom 14:8
Stanza by Stanza
For all your saints, Lord, who strove to live in you, who followed, obeyed and adored you, receive our grateful hymn.
Rev 7:15 (TLH's text): the saints 'before the throne of God… serve him day and night.' 'In Thee' — they lived in union with Christ. The hymn thanks God, not the saints (Ap XXI.4).
- Scripture
- Rev 7:15, Heb 11, Gal 2:20, John 10:27
- Imagery & language
- Saints; following.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — thanks for God's work in the saints.
- Connection to previous
- Their life.
For all your saints, Lord, who strove to die in you, who counted you their great reward, accept our thankful cry.
'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord' (Rev 14:13). 'I am your shield; your reward shall be very great' (Gen 15:1) — God himself, not merit, is the reward. Martyrs especially (Rev 6:9-11).
- Scripture
- Rev 14:13, Gen 15:1, Phil 1:21, Rev 6:9-11
- Imagery & language
- Dying in the Lord; great Reward.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — God as reward.
- Connection to previous
- Their death.
In life and death, keeping you their Lord in view, they all learned from the breath of your Holy Spirit to suffer and to act.
Their faithfulness was the Spirit's work, not their own achievement (Rom 8:14; Gal 5:25). 'Looking to Jesus' (Heb 12:2). 'To suffer and to do' — passive and active obedience, cross and vocation (2 Tim 3:12; Eph 2:10).
- Scripture
- Heb 12:2, Rom 8:14, Gal 5:25, 2 Tim 3:12, Eph 2:10
- Imagery & language
- Spirit's breath; suffering and doing.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit's work in saints.
- Connection to previous
- The Spirit's work.
For this we bless your name and humbly pray that we may follow them in holiness and live and die in you.
Imitation of the saints' faith (Heb 13:7; 1 Cor 11:1; AC XXI). 'Live and die in Thee' (Rom 14:8). The petition is humble — holiness too is God's gift.
- Scripture
- Heb 13:7, 1 Cor 11:1, Rom 14:8, 1 Thess 4:3
- Imagery & language
- Following; living and dying in Christ.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — prayer for faithful life and death.
- Connection to previous
- Imitation.
Themes
communion of saints perseverance in faith heavenly reward Christian witness eternal life