LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVE EXCELLING

When the choir strikes up "Love Divine, All Love Excelling," there is an immediate sense of reverence and anticipation in the church. It is a grand, sweeping prayer for God's presence, asking the "Joy of heav'n" to make its home among us and setting a profound tone for worship.

The verses move from a gentle invitation for the "loving Spirit" to enter our troubled hearts, to a triumphant vision of heaven where we cast our crowns before God. Choirs often use this piece during the entrance procession or as a recessional hymn, as its steady, marching rhythm naturally carries the congregation into or out of the Mass.

The progression from seeking comfort—asking God to "Enter every trembling heart"—to ultimate transformation resonates deeply. It reminds the faithful in the pews that grace is an active, perfecting force, leaving us "Lost in wonder, love and praise."