The Gloria at Mass

[Psalm45_9]

Lately I have noticed some priests in my diocese saying the Gloria at daily Mass when it is Feast or a Memorial. Has this always been the norm? Or is this one of the new reforms of the 2000 Missal? Is it an option for Feasts and Memorials, or is it manditory? This morning the celebrating mass, celebrated the optional memorial for St. Stephan, King of Hungary and we said the Gloria. The reason why I ask, because this is not universal in my diocese. Durring EWTN’s masses, they pray the Gloria on Feasts.

I also get very mad when the priest who celebrates daily mass does not have us pray the Gloria and Nicene Creed on Solemnities, they’re supposed to.

 

[mosher]

It depends. Usually it is never done on a memorial and sometimes on a feast and always on a solemnity. It depends on the degree of the feast. The instructions on the mass of the day in the Sacramentary tell the priest to do it or not. So, the Church makes it a little less difficult than brain surgery.

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

The Gloria is sung during High Mass and omitted during Low Mass.
High Mass is a mass during sundays, feasts and solemnities. During memorial it can also be sung if the parish wanted to. Like if it is in memory of St. Francis of Assisi so the Franciscans might celebrate a mass with Gloria and credo in it.

 

[mosher]

viktor aleksndr:

The Gloria is sung during High Mass and omitted during Low Mass.
High Mass is a mass during sundays, feasts and solemnities. During memorial it can also be sung if the parish wanted to. Like if it is in memory of St. Francis of Assisi so the Franciscans might celebrate a mass with Gloria and credo in it.

This is sorta correct. Some feasts do not include the Gloria and only memorials that are treated as feasts in a local area due to an officially particular devotion to the particular saint. This is usually the case with such things as the home diocese of a saint that is only universally celebrated as a memorial or optional memorial.

 

[Psalm45_9]

mosher:

This is sorta correct. Some feasts do not include the Gloria and only memorials that are treated as feasts in a local area due to an officially particular devotion to the particular saint. This is usually the case with such things as the home diocese of a saint that is only universally celebrated as a memorial or optional memorial.

Thank you, that would explain the Franciscans saying the Gloria on St. Claire’s Day, locally it is a memorial, but I believe in the Franciscan Community it is a Feast Day.

 

[mmrosberg]

I have a related question concerning the Gloria . . . is it acceptable to include the Gloria at a ritual Mass on a day when no feast or solemnity occurs? The ritual Mass I have in mind is the one for the Rite of Religious Profession. Can anyone offer any clear response to this, along with documentation for that response?

 

[btdn]

I have a related question concerning the Gloria . . . is it acceptable to include the Gloria at a ritual Mass on a day when no feast or solemnity occurs? The ritual Mass I have in mind is the one for the Rite of Religious Profession. Can anyone offer any clear response to this, along with documentation for that response?

That would sound like a special celebration of a more solemn nature to me. From G.I.R.M. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) no. 53:

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.

I linked to the version for the dioceses of the United States of America (you don’t say where you’re from) but this isn’t one of the adapations.

 

[mmrosberg]

I am very new to this forum – in fact, today is my first involvement; so, I’m not sure how to know who responded to my inquiry . . . but, to whomever it was – THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I never noticed that last line before; and I would tend to agree with you. In fact, now I’m wondering if it’s even “optional”? By the way, I’m in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Thank you again! Sr. Mary Margaret

 

[benedictgal]

Lately I have noticed some priests in my diocese saying the Gloria at daily Mass when it is Feast or a Memorial. Has this always been the norm? Or is this one of the new reforms of the 2000 Missal? Is it an option for Feasts and Memorials, or is it manditory? This morning the celebrating mass, celebrated the optional memorial for St. Stephan, King of Hungary and we said the Gloria. The reason why I ask, because this is not universal in my diocese. Durring EWTN’s masses, they pray the Gloria on Feasts.

I also get very mad when the priest who celebrates daily mass does not have us pray the Gloria and Nicene Creed on Solemnities, they’re supposed to.

During weekdays, the Gloria is prayed on Solemnities such as Sts. Peter and Paul, the Annunciation, St. Joseph, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Triumph of the Cross and all solemnities of the Apostles. It is also prayed on all Holy Days of Obligation. It is, however, not used during Optional Memorials or memorials to saints like St. John Bosco (unless the Salesians are celebrating his Feast Day because it is a patronal feast and they do have that right), St. Maria Goretti or St. Anthony of Padua. The ordo for your province tells you when the Gloria is used.

 

[bpbasilphx]

The Gloria is sung during High Mass and omitted during Low Mass.
High Mass is a mass during sundays, feasts and solemnities.

**Wrong.

A High Mass is celebrated with music. It is quite possible to celebrate a High Mass on an ordinary week day–and (assuming it’s not a solemnity or feast) the Gloria would not be used.

It would usually be omitted on Sundays during Lent and Advent.

A Low Mass is recited with NO music. **

 

[vmlenza]

I am from New Orleans but due to family illness am staying in Naples FL with my parents for an extended time. Their parish never says the GLORIA. I go there for daily Mass but drive a lot further to hear the GLORIA on Sundays. I have to pay close attention to the daily calendar for a feast day to drive to the next church or else I’ll miss the GLORIA because they just never say it at this church. HELP - this is like eternal LENT!! Is it okay for them to be in a hurry and just skip whatever they want to? I really love the GLORIA - I think it’s my favorite prayer. I love to hear the whole church singing it as if they really mean it. Boy I miss all those CATHOLIC churches in New Orleans!! P.S. Please pray for them, they are evacuating right now. – Vicki

 

[japhy]

I am from New Orleans but due to family illness am staying in Naples FL with my parents for an extended time. Their parish never says the GLORIA.

The Gloria is only omitted on Sundays in Lent and Advent; any other time it is illicit to omit it or replace it.

I’ll pray for your parish and those in the area.

 

[btdn]

I am from New Orleans but due to family illness am staying in Naples FL with my parents for an extended time. Their parish never says the GLORIA. I go there for daily Mass but drive a lot further to hear the GLORIA on Sundays. I have to pay close attention to the daily calendar for a feast day to drive to the next church or else I’ll miss the GLORIA because they just never say it at this church. HELP - this is like eternal LENT!! Is it okay for them to be in a hurry and just skip whatever they want to? I really love the GLORIA - I think it’s my favorite prayer. I love to hear the whole church singing it as if they really mean it. Boy I miss all those CATHOLIC churches in New Orleans!! P.S. Please pray for them, they are evacuating right now. – Vicki

At my parish, we only pray the Gloria on the Sundays of Easter and Christmas. Apparently, according to our music director who quite possibly made this decision, this makes us notice its absence during the rest of the year. I never thought of it as eternal Lent but it really is.

I would like to emphasise the ‘very ancient and venerable hymn’ part of the quote from the G.I.R.M.

 

[japhy]

At my parish, we only pray the Gloria on the Sundays of Easter and Christmas. Apparently, according to our music director who quite possibly made this decision, this makes us notice its absence during the rest of the year. I never thought of it as eternal Lent but it really is.

First of all, I’m sorry for your loss, honestly.

Second, this is the type of decision a music director, pastor, or bishop is simply NOT qualified to make; who gives music directors such crazy ideas?

Third, the absence of the Gloria DURING Advent and Lent is meant to catch our attention: why is it missing, we ask, and the answer depends on the season, of course.

Fourth, to emphasize the Gloria during Christmastide and Paschaltide, why not use a more festive tone/tune for it?

SIGH. Isn’t God worth the glory?