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Sunday Worship: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

It's Gonna Take A Miracle
August 2, 2020
If the bulletin does not appear to the right (or below, if you are on a device other than a computer), you can also click this link to download the PDF of this week's home liturgy.
Music and Reflection
Collin Power, Director of Music Ministry
Continuing in the series of writing about the music of the mass, which are privileged to have the choir sing different settings of each Sunday at Ascension and St. Agnes, we come this week to the “Gloria”.
One of the oldest hymns in the Christian tradition, known in the Eastern Orthodox tradition as the Greater Doxology or Angelic hymn, it begins with the quotation of the angels from the gospel of Luke announcing the birth of Christ: “Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis” or “Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men”. ​
It originated as a result of the practice of early Christians writing hymns imitating the psalms, and later became codified as part of morning prayers. It takes place in the mass after the penitential rite, except during Advent and Lent. This makes it even more dramatic when the Gloria returns on evenings such as the Easter Vigil. It is a reminder of as Fr. John Bartunek puts it, “Heaven’s glory bursting not only into the celebration, but into human history.” The Gloria praises and adores God, thanks him for His Glory, and adores and thanks Jesus as the Lamb of God. It is rich in theology and beauty, and has inspired countless stunning settings ranging from the intimate to the bombastic, showing the various shades of God’s glory.
For your reflection, I’ve attached a video of Maurice Durufle’s setting of the mass, his “Messe cum Jubilo”. Written in 1968, this mass is both modern, and ancient, as it is based on chant melodies of the Gregorian mass of the same name. Durufle’s setting imbibes these timeless melodies with new life and raucous joy. I hope that in listening to it, you find some of the glory of God in this difficult times.

Glory be to God on high
And in earth peace, goodwill towards men, We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
      
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
art most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite, Iesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu: in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
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