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Glory Be
The Glory Be is a short Catholic prayer of praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”
The prayer gives praise to each Person of the Trinity while professing the unity of God.
“As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be”
God's glory is not temporary. The prayer stretches our attention beyond the present moment toward God's eternity.
“World without end. Amen.”
The prayer ends by affirming that God's glory and Kingdom do not pass away.
In brief
Catholics pray the Glory Be as a short act of worship and praise directed to the three Persons of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Understand
What is this prayer?
The Glory Be, traditionally called the Gloria Patri, is a brief Christian doxology. A doxology is a prayer of praise giving glory to God.
Quick facts
- Latin name
- Gloria Patri
- Type
- Doxology
- Focus
- The Holy Trinity
- Length
- Around 10 seconds
- Common use
- Rosary and Liturgy of the Hours
Why Catholics pray it
Why it matters
Catholics pray the Glory Be to praise the one God revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Rather than asking for something, the prayer simply turns attention toward God's eternal glory.
When to pray
When Catholics use it
It can be prayed at any time and commonly concludes other prayers. Catholics encounter it especially in the Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Meaning
What the words mean
The prayer gives equal glory to Father, Son and Holy Spirit and proclaims that God's glory is not temporary. God was, is and remains eternally worthy of praise.
History
Where this prayer comes from
Short Trinitarian doxologies developed very early in Christian worship. The Glory Be became a standard form of praise in Western Christian prayer and remains deeply embedded in Catholic liturgical and devotional life.
Scripture
Biblical connections
Matthew 28:19
Jesus names the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together in the command to baptise all nations.
2 Corinthians 13:13
St Paul's blessing brings together Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit in a distinctly Trinitarian pattern.
Catholic teaching
Catechism connections
CCC 232–237
The Catechism identifies the mystery of the Holy Trinity as central to Christian faith and life.
CCC 249–256
The Catechism explains the Church's confession of one God in three divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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Common questions
What does Glory Be mean?
It means giving praise and honour to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and recognising God's eternal glory.
Why is the Glory Be prayed during the Rosary?
It concludes each decade with praise of the Trinity, keeping the Rosary ultimately directed toward God.
What is a doxology?
A doxology is a short expression of praise to God. The Glory Be is one of the most familiar Christian examples.
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