‘Gloria’ is Being Restore
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- Published on Thursday, 13 October 2011 19:31
- Written by FR. JOHN A. KILEY
‘Gloria’ is Being Restore
Believers are well aware that the Old Testament has its familiar Books of Psalms consisting of 150 songs, hymns and works of poetry. Believers should also recall that St. Luke has preserved for posterity the brief song of the angels heard from the skies over Bethlehem at the birth of Christ: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.” Of all the canticles contained in the Sacred Scriptures, Old Testament or New Testament, the “Gloria” is probably the most familiar, being incorporated into the opening rite of the Mass.
This liturgical song has been greatly amplified by the church over the centuries. It bears perennial witness to the believing community’s ancient desire to express deeply held beliefs in rhythmical fashion. Come this Advent, the English-speaking world will modify a bit the praises found in the “Gloria” the better to reflect the traditional Latin cadences. The restored “Gloria” will read:
“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.”
When American Catholics begin worshipping at the church’s renewed liturgy starting in Advent, they will of course have to restrain the jubilation expressed in the “Glory to God” until Christmas, the brisk hymn of praise being repressed during Advent. English-speaking Catholics should now chant how appropriate it is that this song first intoned by the angels on Christmas Eve for the first time on another Christmas Eve, commemorating the birth of the awaited Messiah.
Condensed version of “THE QUIET CORNER”
BY FATHER JOHN A. KILEY The Rhode Island Catholic