Sunday, October 2, 2011

The GLORIA


The Gloria, rooted in the Song of the Angels (Luke 2:14), has been sung in common worship since very early ages, first at Morning Prayer, then, in the Mass. It includes elements of praise, thanks, acknowledgement and pleas for God’s loving-kindness. .


The GLORIA is often referred to as a hymn, though it is not structured with rhyming  lines, as we generally expect in a hymn.


If it seems longer than usual: you’re right! While the Latin in both RM2 and RM3 is the same for the Gloria, the different styles of translation can be seen in comparing the texts.


 The current translation, (RM-2), for the sake of poetic flow, re-arranged some phrases and combined what they considered duplication. RM-3, following the strict, literal translation method, gives all of the variations of praise and petition. 


Despite their translation differences, the 3-fold structure of the Gloria remains in both versions: [a] Glory, praise, adoration to God, Peace to all on earth; [b] expressions of confidence in Jesus our Savior and  desire for forgiveness; finally, [c] a return to giving praise to the Most Holy Trinity.


It is filled with "acknowledgement vocabulary" which would probably be good to add to our own prayer-life, if it lacks much praise. 



  • Praise, Bless, Adore, Glorify, ...give You thanks...,
  • Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.



In some ways, praise is more difficult than thanks.  In praise, the entire focus is on the Other.  In thanks, there is still a little bit of the self: while we acknowledge God as the source of all gifts, part of us is focused on what we got out of it.


Praying the Gloria balances us. It stretches our ability to focus on the Holy One without reference to self; and yet it incorporates our undeniable need to depend on God's mercy, strength and forgiveness.