The Glory Be is said at the conclusion of the introduction to the Rosary and at the end of each decade. It is a doxology — a liturgical form of praise. Placing it at the end of each stage of the Rosary draws our attention back to the glory of God. Wherever our reflection or meditation has taken us, the Glory Be re-centres us before we move to the next Mystery.

It is a doxology in three parts. It begins with: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” — naming each Person of the Trinity individually and equally. The prayer reminds us that all glory belongs to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit alike. In my own meditations, I sometimes struggle to hold the Trinity in balance. Too often, I find myself neglecting the Holy Spirit. The Glory Be reminds me that each Mystery is the work of the whole Trinity: designed by the Father, fulfilled by the Son, and brought to our remembrance by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The prayer continues: “As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.” These words affirm God’s eternal glory — past, present, and future. “In the beginning” recalls both Genesis 1, where God creates the heavens and the earth, and John 1, where “the Word became flesh.” God’s glory exists outside time and space; it is eternal. For me, this is deeply consoling. In moments of vulnerability or loneliness, the words “ever shall be” remind me that God holds past, present, and future in His hands. Even when I cannot see the path ahead, I can trust that He sees it clearly.

The prayer concludes: “…world without end. Amen.” This phrase affirms God’s everlasting reign. The Latin original (in sæcula sæculorum) literally means “unto the ages of ages” — an endless stretch of time. Here we proclaim that God’s kingdom has no end, and that in Christ’s victory over sin and death, eternal life is offered to us.

When the Glory Be is prayed at the end of each decade, it reminds us that all the Mysteries of the Rosary — indeed, all of Scripture — form one continuous story of salvation. The Bible does not close with finality but with promise: the promise of Christ’s return, the fullness of the Kingdom, and eternal communion with God.

Pause. Pray. Pass it on.