Gloria means "glory" and embodies the act of doxology—giving praise to God. In a literary context, any poem of praise, whether a psalm, an ode, or a hymn, can be considered a gloria. It is poetry in its most celebratory and worshipful mode. The poet's voice joins the chorus of creation in acknowledging the majesty, beauty, and goodness of the divine. This type of poetry focuses not on petition or confession, but on pure, self-forgetful adoration.

Gloria (“Glory to God in the highest”) is sung in Christian liturgy, echoing angels at Christ’s birth; it celebrates divine majesty and peace on earth; in poetry, gloria moments capture sudden awe—sunrise, birdsong, or communal harmony—as earthly reflections of heavenly praise and cosmic harmony.