Gloria

[elsacasey]

Are there times when the Gloria may be omitted from the liturgy? Our priest insists that we are not to sing the Gloria except during Christmas and Easter seasons.

 

[NicPais83]

Lent, Advent, and I think weekday Masses. I believe it’s required for Sundays, Holy Days, and Solemnities.

 

[musicmantg11]

Yes, the Gloria is ommited in the Seasons of Advent and Lent, and weekdays of the Liturgical Year. It is required for Solemnities, Holy Days and Sundays.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Yes, the Gloria is ommited in the Seasons of Advent and Lent, and weekdays of the Liturgical Year. It is required for Solemnities, Holy Days and Sundays.

I think it is also required on all Feast Days, e.g. today the Feast of the Visitation.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Our priest insists that we are not to sing the Gloria except during Christmas and Easter seasons.

Did you mean sing? In our parish we *sing *the Gloria during the Christmas and Easter seasons, but we *recite *it on the Sundays of Ordinary Time.

 

[NPC]

I think it really depends on the priest in charge/parish. For most churches, if they ever sing the Gloria, it will be during Christmas or Easter. However, I don’t think there are restrictions on singing the Gloria throughout the year (except, of course, Advent and Lent, etc.) - it should be remembered that the Gloria is a song - a great hymn of praise which the angels sang when Christ was born -“Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus, bonae voluntatis…”. When viewed as such, it seems absolutely appropriate that it might be sung each Sunday; but as I said, it really depends on the priest. I think you’d have a much stronger case arguing why it should be sung than the priest would have arguing against!

 

[NPC]

This is from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal from the Vatican website www.vatican.va :

"The Gloria

1. The Gloria is a very ancient and venerable hymn in which the Church, gathered together in the Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the Father and the Lamb. The text of this hymn may not be replaced by any other text. The Gloria is intoned by the priest or, if appropriate, by a cantor or by the choir; but it is sung either by everyone together, or by the people alternately with the choir, or by the choir alone. If not sung, it is to be recited either by all together or by two parts of the congregation responding one to the other.

It is sung or said on Sundays outside the Seasons of Advent and Lent, on solemnities and feasts, and at special celebrations of a more solemn character."

• Although it does not say that the Gloria must be sung, I think the text seems to imply that if possible it should be sung. It is referred to as a ‘venerable hymn’ - so by its nature it is suited to singing. I think the above text at least suggests that singing the Gloria is preferable to reciting it.

 

[Phemie]

Did you mean sing? In our parish we *sing *the Gloria during the Christmas and Easter seasons, but we *recite *it on the Sundays of Ordinary Time.

The Gloria, unlike the Creed, is one of the things I find hardest to recite and a musician explained that that’s because it’s meant to be sung and it doesn’t lend itself well to being recited.

 

[benedictgal]

The Gloria, unlike the Creed, is one of the things I find hardest to recite and a musician explained that that’s because it’s meant to be sung and it doesn’t lend itself well to being recited.

Although, there are times when my PV will recite, rather than sing, the Gloria for the Spanish Masses. OCP takes some very loose liberties with the Gloria in Spanish and cuts out half of the prayer. In other words, in Spanish, we don’t sing, “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.” In Spanish, the settings are, “Lord, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. You are the Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us and hear our prayer.”

This is nothing at all like the correct text in Spanish. Therefore, a word to the wise, especially those who speak Spanish: It is better to receite the entire, correct and complete Gloria than to sing it if the words in the particular settings don’t match the approved text.