Lent - Alleluia and Gloria

[gwerner]

During Lent, we exclude both the Gloria and the Alleluia from the Liturgy. On Holy Thursday (the day I write), we will recite the Gloria in the Liturgy signifying the end of Lent which ends with Holy Thursday. We, however, do not sing the Alleluia until the Easter Vigil. Can someone explain to me in the greatest amount of Catholic detail why the different treatment for the two? Intuitively, I would think the two would be treated the same, but then there is a lack in judgment on my part. From a Liturgical Season perspective then, Gloria is removed during Lent but Alleluia is removed for both the Lenten and the Triduum seasons.

 

[TomH1]

The Gloria is only used on Holy Thursday at the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This is because it is a partly joyful event because of the remembrance of the institution of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

It simply will not be used again until the Paschal Vigil because between the two there are no Masses.

 

[gotDoug]

Going of off what @TomH1 has said, it is also said/sung on March 19th, the feast of St. Joseph, on March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, and during the Chrism Mass, which is celebrated on Holy Thursday morning or at another suitable time. Those are also joyous occasions, as is partly the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which calls for the ringing of bells during the Gloria.

I guess, although I could be wrong, that the reason we do not sing the Alleluia until the Easter Vigil despite the few joyful feasts that fall in between Ash Wednesday and Easter, is that we are still in the season of Lent. Despite the momentary rejoicing during those days, we await Easter and hold off from fully rejoicing until then. The great Alleluia during the Easter Vigil has so much power after not hearing since the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. For me personally, it would not be as powerful if we made those exceptions during Lent for those joyous feasts. As per Holy Thursday, I always thought the Gloria marked the end of Lent but also the start of the Passion of Christ as my Parish would stop playing all musical instruments from that moment on until the Gloria during the Easter Vigil.

 

[TomH1]

it is also said/sung on March 19th, the feast of St. Joseph, on March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, and during the Chrism Mass

Yes, Gloria is used on solemnities and feasts during Lent.

 

[Evan]

I don’t know if Lent ends on Holy Thursday.

For Lent to be 40 days, it needs to extend to Holy Saturday. And Easter begins with the Easter Vigil (or Evening Prayer 1 if you don’t attend the vigil), but Triduum ends after Easter Mass. So Triduum is not treated as a Season but an Extended Liturgy that overlaps both Lent and Easter.

After the Holy Thursday mass, you are not sent forth (go in peace to love and serve the Lord) for the liturgy continues through Good Friday/ Holy Saturday/ to the Easter Vigil.