The Recovering Choir Director

Article 53 lays down the seasons and ways that the Gloria may be lawfully implemented (or omitted) during Mass.

The Gloria

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.

What is “The text of this hymn may not be replaced by any other text” supposed to mean? My untrained intuition tells me that we’re to stick to the Latin or an “approved translation” (in this case ICEL’s). This means Mike Anderson’s calypso “Gloria” is out. (It wasn’t meant to replace the Gloria anyway, but the words were so reminiscent of ICEL’s paraphrase.)

Now the instruction seems to allow for “responsorial-style” settings, but tradition has it that this hymn was through-composed, therefore the settings should generally be through-composed as well, “active participation” notwithstanding. (See this article for further enlightenment on this issue). “But singing the Gloria straight through puts more demands on the assembly,” people might say. Well, by singing/reciting the sentences antiphonally between cantor/choir/priest and assembly, etc., you can reduce the demand on the assembly’s “active participation” by half. It’s allowed, and is faithful to the Instruction and tradition.

Alternatively the Gloria can be reserved for the choir alone. Granted, this isn’t optimal to those whose interpretation of “active participation” requires assembly singing as much as possible, but it’s an option allowed as much as hymns are allowed to supplant the Graduale Romanum (see GIRM § 47-48)—an option which has become the de facto norm in the United States.

What’s not said about the Gloria? Maybe you’ve experienced these “Gloriantics” at a Sunday Mass:

• Gloria sung as an entrance hymn (”Hey, it’s a hymn, right?”);
• Gloria accompanies the blessing and sprinkling of water (GIRM § 37 cites the singing/recitation of the Gloria as constituting “an independent rite or act”);
• Gloria omitted on Sundays of Christmastide, Eastertide or Ordinary Time (see paragraph 2 of GIRM § 53 above).

This shouldn’t be the case. Just because it’s done (or not) doesn’t mean it’s right.