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Doxology as Mystery of God
- University of Notre Dame Press
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D Doxology as Mystery of God Doxology is the most exalted verbal expression and the climactic liturgical gesture of the assembled community of faith. Doxology is a formula of praise always dedicated to God and God alone. Doxology is the moment of greatest intensity in prayer. Failing in our own words, we readily acknowledge that only the very Word of God can give perfect glory to God. “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the world. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word” (Heb 1:1–3).1 Only God can speak adequately of God. Jesus is our Word of God and hence our ultimate doxology. Our prayer to the Father is always through the Word and in the unity brought about among us by the Holy Spirit. As the Eucharistic Prayer concludes in its own great doxology: “Through him, with him, and in him in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.” 3 D O X O L O G Y : WO R D A N D C O N C E P T 4 In the context of worship services, the word “doxology” refers specifically to a short formula of thanksgiving and glory given to God at the closing of a longer prayer formulation. Doxologies can be found throughout the Hebrew and the Christian scriptures. Doxological prefaces to prayers and more often conclusions were common in the Jewish synagogue. The early Christians continued the practice of doxologies, but the formulations now confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. Early in Christian worship, for example, in the second-century Didache, we find this doxology added to the Lord’s Prayer: “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.” So widespread and popular was this doxology that the words themselves were copied into some ancient Bible texts and for centuries were thought to be originally from Matthew’s gospel. In the eastern Church, liturgical prayers commonly ended with a doxology. In the western Church, the liturgical recitation of individual psalms commonly ended with a doxology. In classical Christian preaching in the Patristic age, homilies often ended with a doxological formula.2 Eventually the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—in all their mystery and ultimate divine glory became the heart of all Christian doxology. The psalms are filled with praise and worship of God, and for that reason they remain a prime example of doxology in the Jewish faith. Each of the five books of the Jewish Psalter concludes with a doxology in praise of the one true God. Book I ends “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting . Amen and Amen” (41:13). Book II concludes, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.” (72:18–19). Book III ends “Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen and Amen” (89:52). Book IV concludes, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting . And let all the people say, ‘Amen.’ Praise the Lord!” (106:48). And the last book of the Psalter concludes with Psalm 150, which in its entirety is a doxology. The psalms were appro- [3.85.38.100] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 12:36 GMT) priated by Christians and given a particular Christian interpretation by the general practice of ending the liturgical recitation of each psalm with the lesser doxology. Doxology in the Christian liturgy clearly took its lead from doxology in the Bible. The epistles of Paul are peppered with doxological prayers and especially laudatory salutations at the beginning of epistles and praise excitations at their conclusions. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:36), and Paul concludes his Epistle to the Romans “to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever! Amen” (Rom 16:27). Paul writes in the beginning of Ephesians: “Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in...