Jul 31 Thu
Why do we say the “Gloria”?
The Gloria or “Greater Doxology” is among the earliest of all Christian hymns. No phrase in it does not also appear in the epistles of St Paul or in the writings of St John.
The first Christians used to sing it in their meetings, usually early in the morning. They saw in the rising sun a symbol of Christ, a great light that comes to dispel darkness. Soon, it was introduced in the Mass.
The Gloria begins with the words the angels said to the shepherds on Christmas night (Lk 2:14), for which reason this composition is also known as the Angelic Hymn:
Like them, we must be a living testimony to God’s glory.
Of what use would all our acts of piety be if we did not amend our lives, if we did not fulfill our professional duties?
We do not want to proclaim the glories of God while our mind and will are clothed in vanity.
We do not want to speak of them while our hearts are full of bitterness toward our neighbor. You and I must not act thus.
The first part of the Gloria is addressed to the Father:
Lord God, heavenly King…
Man must worship the Creator before asking favors of him.
Here, we confess God’s glory, and thank him, not for what He has done, but for what He is: for his great glory, for his immensity, for his incomprehensibility.
The second part is addressed to Jesus Christ:
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father…
The soul praises and blesses the Son of God, the “Only Begotten Son.” He is the Good Shepherd, and the spotless Lamb who did not hesitate to become the “man of sorrows” and to burden himself with our sins, to take away the sins of the world, to reconcile man with God.
He had such compassion on our infirmities that he left behind his seat in heaven “at the right hand of the Father.”
Greater love than this no man had, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Now, if He is such a friend of ours, why should we not ask him humbly to have mercy on us?
Thus, we say: “Receive our prayer.” We poor men can never stop begging from God. May we never lack the faith and humility to continue doing so.
We can find in this hymn the four reasons for which the Mass is said. These should also be our dispositions when we participate in the Mass:
Praise of God: “We worship you..., we praise you....”
Thanksgiving: “We give you thanks...for your great glory.”
Atonement and sorrow for sins: “You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.”
Petition: “Receive our prayer.”
The soul sings the Gloria, even though the lips may only be reciting it. The soul sings in the name of the entire creation, yearning for the coming of the kingdom of God, which is announced and effected in the Mass.
This most beautiful of hymns is brought to its end in sublime simplicity:
For you alone are the Holy One…Amen.