The Church begins today on Passion Sunday the most penitential time of the year. During these final two weeks leading up to the holy festival of Easter, we are reminded of the penance of the season by the covering of the statues and images in our churches and in our homes. Additionally, in the Traditional Mass we will notice the further omission of several prayers at the beginning of Mass during the Prayers at the foot of the altar in addition to the Glory Be (known in Latin as the Gloria Patri).
The Gloria Patri is omitted in the Mass and in parts of the Divine Office. Concerning the Divine Office, it is suppressed during the responsories in the Office though kept for most of Passiontide at the end of the Psalms. However, starting with Matins of Holy Thursday said on the night of Spy Wednesday it disappears completely. The day draws close at hand when the whole Church will mourn the Lord's Passion and Death.
It can - though it doesn't have to be - omitted in the Rosary as well. While this practice is more common in certain Catholic countries than others, it makes sense to omit the Glory Be during Passiontide from our prayers, including the Rosary, as we feel the increasing reality of Calvary drawing ever closer. This is also consistent with the Church's official prayers which during this period omit this last remaining expression of joy in the Church's liturgy. Darkness closes in.
In place of the Glory Be, this prayer is traditionally added:
R: Mortem autem crucis
V: Christ became obedient for us even unto death
R: even unto the death of the cross
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