The Master is here; He is Calling You

What is the history and meaning of the Gloria of the Mass? The “Gloria in excelsis Deo” (Glory to God in the highest) is a most ancient and venerable hymn by which the Church glorifies God the Father and Jesus, the Lamb of God. It is not permitted to replace this hymn by any other. It may be intoned by the celebrant, cantor, or choir. It is a hymn sung or said on Sundays outside of Advent and Lent and on Solemnities and Feasts.

No one quite knows who composed the Gloria but we can trace the hymn back to the third century. Tradition holds that it was first composed as a prayer in the East and translated to Latin by Saint Hilary of Poitiers around the year 360.

Historically, the Gloria is known as the “Angelic Hymn” because it contains the words sung by the angels on the night of Christ’s birth. (Luke 2:13). At first the Gloria was sung as an Easter hymn at dawn after morning prayer. By the 6th century it became part of the Papal Christmas Mass. Gradually it was incorporated into Masses at which bishops presided. Priests were permitted to include the Gloria only at the Easter Vigil. However, by the 6th century, the Gloria was sung at all Sunday and feast day Masses.

The Gloria is an ancient prayer that is meant to point our hearts towards a spirit of awe. It reminds us that we are called to praise and glorify the maker of our hearts and souls.