Prayer · Christian practice

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.

The short doxology — the formula of praise that ends things. It closes each psalm in the daily office, each decade of the Rosary, and a great many prayers besides.

Source: Traditional Western form of the short Trinitarian doxology

Traditionally said five times, rather than counted on beads.

Not counted on beads

How many times

Traditionally said five times.

Japa counts this one without a mala: a plain daily number rather than a ring of beads, with the words kept in view while you say them. Counting is unlimited and free.

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What the words say

The first half gives glory to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The second — as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be — places that glory outside time, which is the doctrinal point: the Son is not a creature who began. 'World without end' renders in saecula saeculorum, literally 'unto the ages of ages'.

Where it comes from

The prayer belongs to the Christian tradition of Trinitarian doxology. Its wording developed through liturgical use; this app gives the familiar Western English form. Eastern liturgical forms have a different ending.

How it is practised

Said at the end of each decade of the Rosary and after each psalm in the Liturgy of the Hours. Five here corresponds to the five decades of one set of mysteries.

References

Liturgy of the Hours, General Instruction, on the doxology after the psalms
Rosary, concluding doxology of each decade

Keep it, and count it every day.

Japa keeps this text beside a large, calm counter on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, with a haptic for every bead and an optional bell at the end of each round. Counting is unlimited and free.

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