,הללו־יה Hallelu-iah.ALLELUIA, or Hallelu-iah, that is say, praise the Lord. This word is to be met with, either at the beginning or the end of some Psalms1. Alleluia was sung upon solemn days of rejoicing. Per vicos ejus (Jerusalem) alleluia cantabitur, says Tobit, speaking of Tob. xiii. 12. Rev. xix. 1, 3, 4, 6.the rebuilding of Jerusalem. St. John in the Revelations says, that he heard a great voice of much people in Heaven, who said Alleluia; and the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying Alleluia.
T his hymn of joy and praises was transferr’d from the Synagogue to the Church. At the Funeral of Fabiola several Psalms were sung with loud Alleluia’s, says St. Jerom2. The Monks of Palestine were awaken’d at their midnight watchings with the singing of Alleluia’s3. So much energy has been observ’d in this term, that it has been thought proper to preserve it, without translating it either into Greek or Latin, for fear of impairing the genius and softness of it. The Church has for many ages prohibited the use of it in times of penance, and in the ceremonies of mourning. It is not repeated in Lent, nor in the obsequies of the dead. Notwithstanding in the mass for the dead, according to the Mosarabick ritual, at the Introit they sing, Tu es portio mea, Domine, alleluia; in terra viventium, alleluia, alleluia. In the life of S. Radegonde it is said, that at her Funeral solemnities, instead of Alleluia nothing was heard but sighs, which intimates that Alleluia was sometimes used on these occasions, as we see above at the Funeral of Fabiola; but in matters of discipline and mere custom, such as this is, ceremonies never have been uniform and universal.
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