The Gloria — "Glory to God in the highest" — is the great hymn of praise near the start of Mass. Here's its meaning, its origin in the angels' song at Bethlehem, and why it is dropped during Advent and Lent.
The Gloria Prayer ("Glory to God in the Highest"): Meaning and Biblical Origin
The Gloria — "Glory to God in the highest" (Gloria in excelsis Deo) — is the ancient hymn of praise sung near the beginning of Mass on Sundays and feasts. In this session of The Mass Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre shows that its opening words are the very song of the angels over Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…" (Luke 2:14). He traces the hymn through the tradition — how Pope St. Telesphorus is said to have added it for Christmas in the second century, how Pope St. Symmachus extended it to every Sunday, and why it is omitted during Advent and Lent (so that it returns "like a new song" at Christmas and Easter) — and unfolds its meaning as an earthly echo of the angels' worship, drawing on William Durand.
Key passages & sources examined: the angels' song at the Nativity (Luke 2:8–14); Pope St. Telesphorus and Pope St. Symmachus (Liber Pontificalis); Amalar of Metz on omitting the Gloria in Advent and Lent; and William Durand on the Gloria and the Incarnation.
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I love getting the mass readings/readings explained, every week. Dr Brandt Petrie it’s truly amazing in his knowledge of the Old Testament and the New Testament.!
I’ve subscribed for many years and have shared Brant Pitre’s excellent work as gifts to friends and colleagues around the world. Keep up the good work. Team!
Once logged in, you can access everything by going to 'Membership' in the main menu bar of our website, then 'Mass Readings Explained' and then pick one of the options there. The calendar view works well for finding those Mass Readings that are in the near future and The Mass Explained will take you to videos in that series.
I love getting the mass readings/readings explained, every week. Dr Brandt Petrie it’s truly amazing in his knowledge of the Old Testament and the New Testament.!
I’ve subscribed for many years and have shared Brant Pitre’s excellent work as gifts to friends and colleagues around the world. Keep up the good work. Team!
