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All Saints' and All Souls': singing hope

Liturgical year · 31 May 2026 · Pierre-Arnaud Destremau

All Saints' Day (1 November) and All Souls' Day (2 November) are close but distinct: one sings the glory of the saints, the other hope for our dead.

Two neighbouring colours

All Saints'

A radiant feast: the great throng of the saints, the Beatitudes. A joyful, expansive repertoire.

All Souls'

Graver, yet filled with hope: we pray for our dead in the light of Easter.

The moments

  • An entrance hymn that gathers (the communion of saints).
  • A psalm of hope for All Souls' Day.
  • A Marian hymn or an “In paradisum” to conclude.

Avoid confusing the two days: the nuance of tone is what makes it true.

A reminder: only distribute scores or lyrics for works in the public domain, your own compositions, or duly authorised works.

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Frequently asked questions

Which hymns for All Saints' Day?

The feast of the saints calls for brilliance: Te Deum, À toi louange éternelle, Chante Ô mon âme. At Communion, a more inward hymn (Il restera de toi, Bienheureux celui qui marche dans tes voies). And a Salve Regina or a Marian hymn at the recessional.

What is the difference between All Saints' Day and 2 November (All Souls' Day)?

All Saints' Day (1 November) is the feast of all the saints, including the unknown ones, a joyful solemnity with the Gloria and the Alleluia. 2 November commemorates the faithful departed: a different tone, graver, with In paradisum, Dies irae (an excerpt), Pie Jesu.

Which hymns for a funeral when All Saints' is near?

No liturgical change is required. But it is a chance to link death to the communion of saints (Que les anges te conduisent) and to the hope of Easter (Vivant, Resurrexit). See also the article on funeral hymns.

Hymns related to this article

The hymns from the albums Vivant and Ephata most relevant to this theme.

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