More Affecting, or Appropriate for All

Then he says the Gloria in excelsis , which is a hymn of praise to God, than which none more simple or sublime can be found. You should therefore join in this with all the affection of your heart. At High Mass, after the Priest has said the Gloria , the choir sings it, and the service pauses until INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEARING MASS. it is concluded, during which time the Priest and congrega- tion remain in devout contemplation. In Masses for the dead, and during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent, this joyful hymn is not said or sung, except on high festivals occurring within those seasons. After the Gloria, the Priest salutes the people with Domi» nus vobiscum (The Lord be with you) ; and they answer, Et cum spiritu tuo (And with thy spirit). Then he goes to the book and reads the Collect or Collects for the day, concluding the first and last with Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum , 8fc. (Through Jesus Christ our Lord). The Collects are short prayers for some special grace or blessing for the Church, appropriate to the season or day. You should join in these if possible, or at least unite your intention with that of the Priest by saying a fervent Amen