I Have to Praise You Like I Should

Last post, as part of our series on the Mass, we explored the Penitential Rite where asked for and received God’s mercy and forgiveness of our venial sins.  Next, we take a moment to realize that God’s mercy and love are so awesome, that He more than deserves for us to praise Him and His glory.  We do this by all singing the Gloria.  Currently, the Gloria goes like this: (cue the pipe organ and 50-member robed choir…)

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ,
only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen

Beginning in Advent of 2011, however, we see some more revisions/updates to the words of the Gloria, and it will go like THIS:

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,

We give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

These changes will bring our English version of the Gloria back to the more literal translation of the traditional Latin text.

So where do we get this from?  Catholics are criticized all the time for not having Biblical connections for the things we do.  Some things we do and say aren’t directly from the Bible, but have their base in Christian Tradition (like St. Paul talks about in 2Thessalonians 2:15). The opening of the Gloria, however, is straight out of the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, Verse 14.  After that, the Gloria is a prayer of praise to the mercy and power of God.  The Gloria is dated as far back as the 3^rd century, although some scholars believe it is even older, originating in the 1^st century.  It was originally part of the Mass at Christmas (which is where it originally connects to in Luke’s Gospel), then was given wider use on Sundays and certain feast days, but originally was only proclaimed by bishops, then later extended to priests on Easter and at their ordinations.  By the end of the 11^th century, priests were directed to sing it at the same times as previously reserved for bishops. 

Presently, the rule of when the Gloria is to be sung (or recited if there is no suitable choir to lead the congregation in singing it) is that it is to be sung whenever the Te Deum is said at Matins (whole mess of confusing stuff right there—which we’ll get to in time…for now, just go with it, and I’ll give the plain version in a minute), except on ferias (Latin, meaning “free days”—generally boils down to weekdays), Ember days (days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence), vigils, during Advent, or from Ash Wednesday until it comes back on Holy Thursday (it is not said on Good Friday, but remember that “Mass” on Good Friday isn’t actually a Mass, but simply a Liturgical Celebration).  General plain English version for the every-day Catholic: Sing the Gloria every Sunday except for Advent & Lent.  Advent & Lent are times of preparation & penance, and we “abstain” from the Gloria to give it a more profound spiritual effect when it comes back at Easter & Christmas. 

If the Gloria is not said at Mass, the priest will move right from the Kyrie to the Collect (pronounced KAHL-ehkt), which is where we’ll pick up tomorrow…Good day, sir…

…I said, “Good Day!”

(37 cool points to the person who can identify that quote.)