The Te Deum and the Gloria During Advent
Date: December 9, 2023
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: If I read liturgical documents correctly, the Te Deum is to be prayed on Sundays during Advent but not during Lent, per No. 68 of the General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours. It's my understanding that the Te Deum is associated with and considered similar to the Gloria at Mass in offering praise to God. However, the Gloria is not prayed during Advent, per No. 53 of the General Instruction to the Roman Missal (GIRM). Why is there such a distinction during Advent? -- S.M., Indianapolis, Indiana
Answer: Our reader is correct in that the Te Deum is omitted during Lent but not Advent while the Gloria is omitted during both.
Although the historical compositions of the two hymns are independent, their liturgical use is related, as the general rule was that the Gloria was used in all Masses in which the corresponding Office foresaw the Te Deum.
According to the rules in force in 1962, the Te Deum was frequently used on Sundays and even daily during the festive seasons. It was omitted during Advent, Septuagesima, Lent, the daily Office during what today would be called Ordinary Time, and the Office for the Dead.
The omission during penitential seasons was never absolute, however, because they could, and can, be used, even during Lent, on solemnities and feasts such as the Annunciation, St. Joseph and St. Patrick where he is celebrated as a feast or solemnity.
Also, although the Gloria usually corresponded to the Te Deum, it could happen that on some days in which the Office foresaw the Te Deum, the Gloria was omitted -- for example, if the priest celebrated a votive Mass for the Dead.
The Lenten omission of the Alleluia, on the other hand, admits of no exceptions, even on solemnities.
After the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the penitential character of Advent was somewhat mitigated. Indeed, according to canon law (Canon 1250), Advent is no longer included among the penitential days and times, and fasting is no longer prescribed.
Historically speaking, Advent had been considered as a period of penance and fasting analogous to Lent with different extensions. Some places, especially in France after the Council of Tours in 567, practiced the “Quadragesima Sancti Martini,” or “St. Martin’s Lent.” This was a period of fasting and abstinence from November 11 to the feast of the Nativity.
There is evidence of similar practices in places such as Italy and Portugal over the following centuries, although reduced to four weeks from the time of Pope Gregory VII (1073–1085). Later laws prescribed fasting and abstinence on Fridays of Advent and on December 24.
Advent, however, does still retain many of the liturgical aspects proper to a penitential season, such as violet vestments and the omission of the Gloria. The Church also urges moderation in the decoration of altars and in the selection of hymns during this season except for solemnities and Gaudete Sunday.
It is thus a season of more intense preparation for the joy of Christmas in order to welcome the newborn Christ into our hearts and souls.
It is worth noting, however, that most Eastern Churches do retain a penitential character for the days before Christmas and prepare with fasting and abstinence.
Returning to our reader’s question: I would say that the reason for the current distinction between the use of the Te Deum and the Gloria is to be found in this change of focus as to the penitential character of Advent.
The Gloria was probably dissociated from the Te Deum in this case due to the fact the Angelic hymn is exquisitely associated with the proclamation of Christ’s birth by the angels to the shepherds in Bethlehem. Thus, its continued suppression during the Advent season is especially appropriate as a preparation for its joyful singing on Christmas night.
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