GLORIA, in general a doxology or ascription of praise, spe cifically two ancient Latin hymns Gloria in excelsis and Gloria Patri, referred to sometimes as the Greater and the Lesser Dox ology respectively, and employed in the services of the Catholic Church. The former, known as the angelic hymn, on the strength of a passage in Luke (ii. 14), is an important part of the Or dinary of the Mass ; the latter is appended to the singing of the psalms. For further particulars and for discussion of the Gloria in music, see MASS ; also LITURGY, MISSAL and EUCHARIST.