How to Give Glory to God in Mass: 4 Essential Ideas

The Holy Mass is the most sublime moment to praise and give Glory to God. It is in this liturgical act where the faithful unite with Christ’s redemptive sacrifice, offering God the Father homage of adoration and glorification. The liturgy teaches us that praise is not only an external action, but a total surrender of the heart, soul, and mind to our Creator. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, “the Eucharist is a sacrifice of praise” (CCC, 1359).

In this article, we will explore how to give glory to God during Mass, delving into the Mass prayers that express this praise and offering advice on how to participate more fully in this act of worship.

Keep reading to find tips on how to better benefit from the Holy Mass!

You can use the Catholic Mass Times app to find the nearest Catholic church with Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules. It will surely help you! Download it now.

In which prayers of the Holy Mass do we give Glory to God?

The Mass is filled with moments where the faithful praise and give Glory to God. These prayers are not just words but expressions of the entire Church’s dedication to the Lord.

1. The “Gloria”

One of the most evident prayers of praise is the “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”. This prayer, taken from the angels’ song at Christ’s Nativity, is a hymn of praise directed to the Holy Trinity. We proclaim: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill.” This prayer, recited or sung, declares that God deserves all glory and honor for His greatness and mercy.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to people of goodwill.

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you,

we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

2. The “Sanctus”

The “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord” is another key moment of praise. In this prayer, we join the celestial choirs to proclaim God’s holiness and give Him Glory. As the Catechism expresses, “the Eucharist unites heaven and earth” (CCC, 1352), and at this moment, we participate in the eternal hymn of the angels.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

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3. The Preface

The preface of the Eucharistic Prayer is a prayer that exalts the wonders of God. Frequently, it mentions the reasons why we give thanks, praise, and Glory to God: creation, redemption, and sanctification. In these words, we recognize God’s goodness and greatness, uniting ourselves with the universal Church.

The preface consists of four parts.

a. It is always the same and connects the community (T) to the priest’s prayer (P):

P: The Lord be with you.

T: And with your spirit.

P: Lift up your hearts.

T: We lift them up to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

T: It is right and just.

b. The prayer that is raised to the Father begins with the final words of the people: “it is right and necessary”. With some variations, this prayer gathers the intentions of the Church and directs them to the heavenly Father:

It is truly right and just, it is our duty and salvation

to give you thanks always and everywhere, Lord, Holy Father,

almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.

c. The central part, which varies widely in its contents according to the day and the feast. This proclaims the reasons for giving thanks and Glory to God, which always focus on the work of creation and the act of redemption:

Option for Advent:

He came for the first time in the humility of our flesh

to carry out the plan of redemption traced from ancient times,

and opened for us the way of salvation;

so that, when he comes for the second time in the

splendor of his greatness, we may receive the promised goods

that we now await in vigilant expectation.

Option for Ordinary Time:

He himself, through his paschal mystery,

accomplished the wonderful work of calling us from sin

and death to the glory of constituting a chosen race,

a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own,

so that, brought from darkness to your admirable light,

we may proclaim your wonders before the world.

d. This part is a prologue to the “Holy” that follows, and unites the eucharistic prayer of the earthly Church with that of the angels and archangels:

Therefore, with the Angels and Archangels,

and with all the heavenly choirs,

we sing without ceasing the hymn of your glory.

4. The Final Doxology

The final doxology is the culmination of the Eucharistic Prayer and a profoundly significant moment in the liturgy. At this moment, the priest elevates the chalice and the paten with the Body and Blood of Christ, and proclaims these words. These synthesize the essence of the Mass as an act of praise and glorification directed to the Father, carried out through the Son and in the Holy Spirit:

Through Him, with Him and in Him, to you, God the almighty Father,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honor and all glory for ever and ever.

Amen

How to better benefit from the Holy Mass to give greater glory to God

Praising God in the Mass should not be limited to an external or routine act. To truly glorify God, it is essential to participate with a sincere heart and focused mind. Here are some tips to live this aspect of the liturgy more fully and give greater Glory to God:

1. Offer God Our Time

It may happen that you feel there are other urgent matters or important (or VERY important) activities at the same time as the Mass. There, you have the first opportunity to be generous, put God first, and trust in His omnipotence.

Surely you have experienced that if you postpone other things to participate in the Holy Mass, all kinds of miracles happen that make your time more productive, or achievements occur that you could never have accomplished on your own in that time. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, prioritize going to Mass several times, and you’ll soon experience it!

The Lord does not let Himself be outdone in generosity! Give Him your time and heart, which is all He’s interested in. He already has everything else, He needs nothing more.

2. Inner Preparation

Before attending the Holy Mass, take a moment to prepare your heart. This can be reading the Gospel of the day calmly, taking a short pause to reflect on what it says to you, in your specific situation.

You can also pray personally, talking to God as you would with a close friend, or do an examination of conscience, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate what you need to improve. Arriving with a willing heart will make you experience the liturgy in a deeper, more devoted way, and truly be able to give Glory to God with all your being.

If you arrive 5 minutes before the Holy Mass begins and dedicate them to kneeling and telling God that you come to Mass leaving other important things because you want to give Him Glory, give Him Thanks, ask for Forgiveness and ask for Help, your mind will have time to tune in and you will benefit from the Holy Mass much more!

3. Active Participation

Did you know that the Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of participating actively in the Mass? This doesn’t just mean being physically present but also with an alert heart and mind. It involves listening attentively to the words and gestures, responding with sincere faith, and joining in the singing and prayers as a true community.

We are not there as spectators but as a living part of Christ’s saving action, who gives Himself again for us in every Eucharist. Participating in this awareness transforms everything, even what we take back home!

4. Outward Reverence

Body posture also has its way of speaking to God. Kneeling in humility, bowing our heads in reverence, joining our hands in prayer as a sign of our surrender… All these gestures are not mere formalities but external expressions of what happens inside us.

Moreover, they help us focus on the soul and connect with what we are experiencing: the presence of Christ. We pray with words and our bodies when we do these small acts with love and awareness.

5. Offer Our Own Life

Saint Paul expressed it beautifully: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship” (Rm 12:1).

In the Holy Mass, we have the unique opportunity to unite everything we are – our joys, sufferings, work, and struggles – to the sacrifice of Christ on the altar. No effort or pain is too small or insignificant for God. If you place it in His hands, He transforms it into a holy, pleasing, and meaningful offering.

By uniting our life to the sacrifice of Jesus, we learn to live each moment as an act of worship, offering Him everything we are. Thus, our entire life becomes a spiritual worship!

You can use the Catholic Mass Times app to find the nearest Catholic church with Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules. It will surely help you! Download it now.

Praising and giving Glory to God in the Mass is an invitation to enter into the mystery of His infinite love. Through prayers, gestures, and inner dispositions, we proclaim the greatness of our Creator and Savior. As the Catechism teaches, the Eucharist is “the heart and summit of the Church’s life” (CCC, 1407).

May each Mass be an occasion to render to God a sincere and total homage. By participating fully, we not only give Glory to God, but also allow His grace to transform our lives, helping us to live with grateful and faith-filled hearts.