Music that comforts – when we remember our departed
At All Saints' and All Souls' Day, our churches and cemeteries grow quiet and solemn at once. These are days of remembering – and it is precisely then that the right music carries more than many words. We have gathered the most beautiful hymns of remembrance for you.
In early November, death, hope and the memory of our departed move to the centre. Whether a memorial service, the blessing of the graves or a quiet devotion at the graveside: fitting hymns give these moments steadiness and dignity. Here you will find a proven selection of hymns from the Gotteslob and the Protestant hymnal (Evangelisches Gesangbuch) – along with practical tips on how to put the music together.
The essentials at a glance
- All Saints' Day (1 November) celebrates all the saints, All Souls' Day (2 November) commemorates all the departed – in the Protestant church this corresponds to Eternity Sunday (the Sunday of the Dead).
- Well-established hymns include Wir sind nur Gast auf Erden, Christus, der ist mein Leben, Von guten Mächten and Näher, mein Gott, zu dir.
- The music ranges from lament through comfort to the hope of resurrection – a hymn plan may well reflect this span.
- No organist available? With the eKlecia® app, every one of these hymns sounds on a real pipe organ – even at the blessing of the graves out in the open.
Which hymns suit All Saints' and All Souls' Day?
All Saints' and All Souls' Day call for hymns that hold together mourning and comfort, transience and the hope of resurrection. The following selection is ecumenically proven and covers the memorial service, the blessing of the graves and quiet devotion – all the pieces are available in the eKlecia® app on a real pipe organ.
| Hymn | GL / EG | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Wir sind nur Gast auf Erden | GL 505 | Transience & pilgrimage |
| Christus, der ist mein Leben | GL 507 | Hope of resurrection |
| Gott, wir vertrauen dir diesen Menschen an | GL 506 | Remembering the departed |
| Von guten Mächten treu und still umgeben | GL 430 · EG 65 | Safe-keeping (ecumenical) |
| Näher, mein Gott, zu dir | GL 502 | Comfort in mourning |
| Das Weizenkorn muss sterben | GL 210 | Dying and rising |
| Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt | EG 150 | The heavenly goal |
| Herr, lehre uns, dass wir sterben müssen | GL 508 | Reflection & transience |
These hymns combine well: a solemn piece for the entrance, a hopeful one for the close. You will find the complete selection of more than 1000 hymns in the hymn list – there you can also filter by hymnal and by occasion.
All Saints', All Souls', Eternity Sunday – what is the difference?
In short: All Saints' Day (1 November) is the Catholic solemnity in honour of all the saints – including the unknown ones. All Souls' Day (2 November) is the day on which the Catholic Church commemorates all the departed; traditionally the graves are blessed. In many parishes the two days join into one shared remembrance with a walk through the cemetery and the blessing of the graves.
In the Protestant church, Eternity Sunday – also called the Sunday of the Dead – takes on this role on the last Sunday of the church year: it is devoted to the remembrance of the departed. Musically the days lie close together, which is why many of the hymns named above suit all three occasions.
Hymns for the blessing of the graves and remembrance of the dead
At the blessing of the graves and during the walk through the cemetery, simple, sustaining hymns are ideal – pieces the congregation can join in even without a hymn sheet. Näher, mein Gott, zu dir and Von guten Mächten are among the hymns almost everyone knows and that give immediate steadiness in difficult moments.
For the memorial service in church, the selection may reach further: from honest lament (Herr, lehre uns, dass wir sterben müssen) through trust in God (Gott, wir vertrauen dir diesen Menschen an) to clear Easter hope (Christus, der ist mein Leben). This movement from mourning to hope is the heart of any funeral music – and it does the bereaved good.
“When the pain is great, words may fail – music must not.”
Dignified organ music – even at the graveside
With the eKlecia® app, every one of these hymns sounds on a real pipe organ – at the memorial service just as at the blessing of the graves out in the open. A smartphone and a loudspeaker are enough.
See all features of the app – or download the app and try it free for four weeks.
Dignified music – even when no organist is there
Precisely in November, when memorial services pile up, an organist is missing in many places. In Germany, more than 40% of church music positions are unfilled – and on exactly these dense, emotional days musical accompaniment matters especially.
This is where eKlecia® steps in: authentic organ recordings, played by hand on real pipe organs, available on a smartphone or tablet. So the memorial service sounds dignified, even when no one is sitting at the organ. Why reliable digital organ music matters so much right now, you can read in the article There are fewer and fewer organists – and this is the solution.
How do I put the hymns together?
The simplest way to plan the hymn list is by the order of service: one hymn for the entrance, one for the remembrance or the blessing of the graves, a hopeful one for the close. In the eKlecia® app you filter the hymns by hymnal (Gotteslob or Evangelisches Gesangbuch), by occasion and – where available – by the regional section of your diocese. That way the right hymn plan is ready in a few minutes.
You will also find a proven selection for the wider funeral service in the article Hymns for the funeral: the most beautiful funeral songs. And if you look further ahead through the church year: for Harvest Thanksgiving and many other occasions too, we have gathered hymn recommendations.
Dignified organ music for remembrance of the dead – entirely without an organist?
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Frequently asked questions
Which hymns suit All Saints' and All Souls' Day?
Well-proven choices are ecumenical hymns that join mourning and hope, for example Wir sind nur Gast auf Erden (GL 505), Christus, der ist mein Leben (GL 507), Von guten Mächten (GL 430 / EG 65) and Näher, mein Gott, zu dir (GL 502). In the eKlecia® app they are all available on a real pipe organ.
What is the difference between All Saints' and All Souls' Day?
All Saints' Day on 1 November is the Catholic solemnity in honour of all the saints. All Souls' Day on 2 November is the day of remembrance for all the departed, traditionally with the blessing of the graves. In the Protestant church this corresponds to Eternity Sunday (the Sunday of the Dead) on the last Sunday of the church year.
Which hymns are suitable for the blessing of the graves?
For the walk through the cemetery, simple, well-known hymns that the congregation can join in even without a hymn sheet are suitable, such as Näher, mein Gott, zu dir (GL 502) or Von guten Mächten (GL 430 / EG 65).
Can I play these hymns without an organist?
Yes. With the eKlecia® app you call up every hymn as an authentic organ recording on a smartphone or tablet – at the memorial service as well as at the blessing of the graves in the open air, where a smartphone and a loudspeaker are enough.
Are the hymns Catholic or Protestant?
Both. The selection is deliberately ecumenical and includes hymns from the Gotteslob (GL) and the Protestant hymnal (EG). Many hymns such as Von guten Mächten appear in both books and suit All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day and Eternity Sunday.
