Love Divine, all Loves Excelling

When we bring "Love Divine, all Loves Excelling" into the choir loft, we are picking up one of the most deeply felt prayers in our hymnody. This particular arrangement opens with a gentle male solo, allowing a single voice to invite the "Joy of heaven" down to earth before the full choir joins in four-part harmony. It gives the congregation a moment to reflect on the words before the familiar, swelling chords fill the church. The text asks God to make His home within us, turning our humble dwellings into places of pure, unbounded love.

As the verses progress, the hymn shifts from a plea for God's presence to a vision of our final destination. We sing of being "changed from glory into glory" and casting our crowns before the Lord. It is a journey from the struggles of this life straight to the joy of heaven. Singing this piece requires a steady, spirited tempo—marked *Andante con spirito* on the score—so the music carries a sense of forward motion and hope without rushing the phrasing.

Because of its focus on God's dwelling among us and our ultimate restoration, this hymn fits beautifully at several points in the Mass. We often use it as a dignified Entrance hymn to gather the people in worship, or as a Recessional to send the congregation out with a spirit of praise. It also serves well during Communion, reminding everyone approaching the altar of the great salvation we receive.