The Glory Be is a short prayer of praise to the Holy Trinity. It closes each decade of the Holy Rosary.
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.
What It Means
The Glory Be gives praise, and only praise. It asks for nothing. It simply gives glory to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who was, is, and always will be.
It is also called the Minor Doxology. Doxology comes from the Greek word for "glory."
The phrase "world without end" is an old English way of saying "forever," from the Latin in saecula saeculorum, "unto the ages of ages."
Where It Comes From
The Glory Be is one of the oldest Christian prayers. It developed in the early centuries of the Church, as Christians professed their faith in the Trinity. It is still prayed at the end of the psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours.
Some versions say "Holy Ghost" instead of "Holy Spirit." Both are correct.
In Latin (Gloria Patri)
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
In the Holy Rosary
The Glory Be is prayed:
- After the three Hail Marys at the beginning
- After the ten Hail Marys of each decade
Next prayer in the Holy Rosary: Fatima Prayer