Why two different Glory Be's?

[Joe_5859]

The common form of the Glory Be (such as found in Appendix A of the Compendium of the CCC) says:

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”

While the version in the Liturgy of the Hours says:

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.”

I’ve alwasy wondered, what is the origin of the two different versions?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

The second one is the one printed in the current Liturgy of the Hours and is a more accurate translation of “saecula saeculorum” which litterally means “ages of ages.”

“World without end” is not the way most of us would translate the above today. “Ages unending” is easier for us to understand. We have received many questions regarding the litteral meaning of the former: “I thought the world was supposed to end–what is this?”

So long as we understand that “world without end” means " for ages unedning" it’s fine to use. Most people are so used to it, they never give is a second thought.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.