The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-08-20


Helena church at MeaderviIle,
Mont.
THE GLORIA AND THE COLLECTS.
Last Sunday you listened to an in
struction on the Introit anda the
Kyrie. Today we shall speak of the
Gloria and Collects.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem
an angel of the Lord announced His
birth to the shepherds of the neigh
borhood, who were keeping the night
watches over their flocks, and sud
denly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host, prais-
ing God and saying GLORY to God in
the highest, and on earth peace to
men of good WILL" duke II, Is, 14.)
These are the first words of the
Gloria, which is recited in all Masses
that the birth of the Savior gives
glory to God, who dwells in the high
est heavens, a glory BETTING God S
infinite majesty. They signify, too,
that the birth of the Savior brings
peace to earth, to sin-torn world
to men who because of their sins
we're children of wrath, but who
now, because of Christ the Savior,
are well-beloved of God These
initial words, Glory to God and peace
to men, constitute the theme Of the
entire hymn. b.,
Words Added by the Church.
The other words of the Glor:a
were added by the church. They are
an outburst of praise, thanksgiving
and supplication "a fitting response to
the angelic anthem which called them
forth. 1--WE praise thee," that is, we
acknowledge and proclaim thy in
finite perfection 1--WE bless thee -
that is, we acclaim thee as the
author of all good and fountain head
from which all blessings flow. We
adore thee, that is, we render to thy
supreme majesty the worship which
belongs to it alone. We glorify thee,
that is, unreservedly we devote our
selves and all we have to thy glory,
serving thee in holiness and justice
and leading others to thy love and
service. I've give thee thanks for
thy great glory" that is, we thank
thee because thou hast vouchsafod
to reveal thy infinite projections, thy
power, wisdom, justice and mercy,
in wondr9us ways, especially by the
work of our redemption through the
IncarnatiS On of thy only-begotten Son
"a work which alone renders thee
the infinite glory which is thy due
and is, at the same time, to US the
source Of all blessings.
II Praise and Prayer.
After this the Gloria goes on in
praise ind prayer, addressing in turn
each q the three Divine Persons:
o Lord God, heavenly King, God the
Father Almighty. In these words the
power of the Father is exalted as
we'll S His supreme dominion over
every creature whether in heaven or
upon earth. o Lord, the only-begot
ten Sbn. These words signify that
the Sbn is not less Lord than the
Fathd', that He is His only Son, the
brightness of His glory and the OK
press image of His substance, and, as
SUCH perfectly equal to Him. But
the church does not stop here when
she addresses the Divine Son who
bec3me her bridegroom through the
Inclination. She accumulates titles
and arguments to manifest her love
foI Him and to obtain His grace.
the calls Him Jesus Christ''-Jesus
btause He is our Savior, and Christ
OF the Amounted, because He divinely
ahointed His humanity at the
toment of the Incarnation, and this
hade Him the High Priest of the
New Covenant. She calls Him Lord
God" because He is both God and man
and as man, the Lamb of God" a
victim of Precipitation alone pleasing
Ito God. She calls Him "Son of God
i in whom the Father is we'll pleased
! She begs of Him who taketh away
| the sins of the world" to have mercy
on us and ito receive our prayers
Because He stitch at the right hand
of Cod as our advocate, she again
begs Him ito have mercy on u.s. and
plead our cause with the Father
After the SuppIications.
After these supplications the church
again exalts the divinity of hel
spouse, Christ Jesus, proclaimins
Him s.to be with the Father and the
Holy Ghost the one only God wht
alone is holy, alone is Lord, alone is
Most High
You may not have observed thai
the priest bows his head severa
times whilst reciting the Gloria, blu
you will not fail TO notice that hi
makes these bows and uncOvers his
head during the singing of the Gloria
by the choir. He bows not oni,
when the Sacred Name is pronounc
ed. but also at the words 'We adore
thee" 1--WE give thee thanks" Re
ceive our prayers" because these
words call to his mind the four pltr
poses for which the sacrifice of thu
Mass is offered, namely, to adore
God. to thank Him, to ask for pardon
and grace.
At the conclusion of the Gloria
Il the priest. having greeted the people
with the words, "The Lord be will
you," goes to the epistle side OF tht
altar and recites or sings the Collec
"a short comprehensive prayer