"Gloria in Excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest") is the title and beginning of the Great Doxology used in the Roman Catholic Mass, Divine Service of the Lutheran Church and in the services of many other [1] Christian churches. It is derived from the Great Doxology, a longer and fuller version, used in the Byzantine Churches. The text of the song begins with a slight variation on the words sung by the angels as part of the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the field in Luke 2:14. The Vulgate uses altissimis (generally meaning physically highest) instead of excelsis (lofty, high, elevated, or a height). The song continues with verses added to make a proper doxology. This song was originally in Greek and goes back very far in the history of Christianity. Another form of the song goes to at least the third century, if not to the first. A longer version dating to the fourth century is still sung in the Greek Orthodox church. The Latin version differs from the present Greek form. They correspond down to the end of the Latin, which however adds: Tu solus altissimus and Cum sancto Spiritu. The Greek then goes on: "Every day I will bless thee and will glorify thy name for ever, and for ever and ever" and continues with ten more verses, chiefly from psalms, to the Trisagion and Gloria Patri.

In the Mass of the Roman Rite, the Gloria is sung on Sundays and Solemnities after the Penitential Rite or Kyrie and before the Opening Prayer. It is omitted during the seasons of Advent and Lent, except on feasts and on Holy Thursday. It is also not sung at funerals or memorial masses. In the Tridentine Form, a cantor or presiding priest intones the first line, Gloria in excelsis Deo, a cappella. The choir continued with rest of the sung text which they sang in place of the people. In the Ordinary Form, the people sing an entire setting of the song or sing it in responsorial style with a cantor or choir.

The song was gradually adopted as a fixture in the Roman Catholic liturgy. The first Pope to order this part of the liturgy was said to be Pope Telesphorus (128–139?), who ordered it sung at every Christmas, and Pope Symmachus (498–514) ordered that it be said every Sunday. It was then spread to use at Easter only for bishops. By the end of the 11th century, priests began to have license to say the Gloria on their own on any Feast day. However, it was still not used during Advent (a season of waiting) and Lent (the season of repentance). The "Glory to God" uses the text from scripture of the angels at the birth of Christ.

In the medieval period, several "farced" Glorias were composed. These expanded the basic Gloria with special purpose, or ariel, verses. The adapted version for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sarum Missal, was used all over Europe. Even though these interpolations were condemned repeatedly, they were still sung as late as 1570.

The Gloria is a hymn of praise addressed to each person of the Holy Trinity, although the clause about the Holy Spirit is very short (cum sancto Spiritu) may have been added later. The clauses are arranged in parallels with a certain loose rhythm. This rhythm is much more evident in the Greek original (measured of course by accent); for instance:

Kyrie basileu epouranie,

Thee pater pantokrator

The Gloria and the Te Deum may be remains of the psalmoi idiotikoi (psalms composed by private persons instead of being taken from the Biblical Psalter) that were popular in the second and third centuries. The extraordinary beauty of these two (to which one should add the Phos Hilaron) is a witness to the splendour of that outburst of lyric poetry among Christians during the time of persecution.

A similar phrase is Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam.

This song also appears in the Book of Odes, a deuterocanonical book for the Greek Orthodox Church.

In the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, for centuries the only official prayer book of the Anglican Communion, the Gloria was moved from its place after the Kyrie, and was instead said or sung at the end of the liturgy, before the final Blessing.

Latin text and English translation

*-From the International Consultation on English Texts

Proposed new draft translation of the Gloria from the ICEL 2007.
Possibly in use in the English speaking Catholic Church by 2009. This translation is a much more accurate translation of the Latin text than that given in the ICEL 1970 version (above).

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

See also

• Great Doxology
• Te Deum

•  • [ e]  Gregorian chants of the Roman Mass
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