Guide to Latin Prayers: Lesson 02 - Doxologia Minor

The Minor Doxology

Don't allow the strange name fool you. The Doxologia Minor (dohks-oh-LOH-gee-ah   MEE-nor) you already know as the Glory Be, or as is commonly known in Latin: the Gloria Patri (GLOH-ree-ah   PAH-tree). The prayer is distinctly Trinitarian in nature, referring to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Why minor? Referring to this prayer as the Minor or Lesser Doxology simply distinguishes it from the Greater Doxology, the Gloria of the Mass.

The Doxologia Minor is used quite often in the Church's liturgy. In typical circumstances, whenever a Psalm is recited —whether in Holy Mass or in the Divine Office— it is concluded with the Gloria Patri.

Gloria Patri

(GLOH-ree-ah  PAH-tree)

et Filio
(eht  FEE-lee-oh)

et Spiritui Sancto
(eht spear-EE-too-wee  SAHNC-toh)

Sicut erat in principio
(SEE-koot  AIR-aht  een  preen-CHEE-pee-oh)

et nunc et semper
(eht   noonk  eht  SEHM-pair)

et in saecula saeculorum
(eht  een  SAY-koo-lah  SAY-koo-lor-oom)

It is customary, when reciting the Doxologia Minor, to bow during the mentioning of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

This concludes the second lesson. Practice often.