Friday, July 22, 2005

Church Bells



Pope Paul VI made it an option to ring bells during Mass. Should they be revived again? Father William Saunders explains that it was never meant to discontinue.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2000, No. 150) stipulates that a bell may be rung regularly at two places during the Mass: First, "a little before the consecration, the minister may ring a bell as a signal to the people." Here the bell is normally rung at the time of the epiclesis in the Eucharistic Prayer. At this point, the priest joins his hands and places them over the bread and wine to be consecrated. He prays for the Holy Spirit to come down upon the gifts so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord. The ringing of the bell alerts the congregation to the calling down of the Holy Spirit and prepares them for the consecration that immediately follows.

Second, "according to local custom, a minister also rings the bell at the showing of both the Eucharistic Bread and the chalice." After the priest says the words of consecration, he elevates the Sacred Host or the chalice of Precious Blood. The ringing of the bell again alerts the faithful that transubstantiation has taken place and that the Body and Blood of our Lord is truly present on the altar.

Keep in mind that the rubrics leave to the discretion of the pastor whether a bell should be used or not. Nevertheless, the use of a bell at Mass is a longstanding tradition in our Church and no one should ever think that their use has been suppressed. Actually, the common practice in the basilicas of Rome is for the bell to be rung at each elevation and then in a prolonged way when the priest genuflects after the elevation of the chalice.

More here.

4 Comments:

Blogger Staying in Balance said...

I love bells! I do know one pastor who refuses to use them and I don't understand his reasoning. He says bells belong outside. I feel very weird when I go to a Sunday Mass without them.

Of course, I think we should use incense every Sunday too, which horrifies some clergy and quite a few laity.

6:25 AM  
Blogger Saint Peter's helpers said...

Bells are wonderful. I'm sorry to see some of the Churches not using them - in fact, I attended a parish several years ago that didn't use them.

I'm all for the use of incense. I don't know if all clergy know the ritual of incensing. I've heard of one seminary that don't have this as part of the formation. Yikes!

12:23 AM  
Blogger Staying in Balance said...

I hear from some priests that it is sometimes the congregation that give them trouble when they try to use incense. Some tell me that all they have to do is bring out the censor and the congregation starts coughing.

I do know one parish where the priest does it anyway. Its like being transported to Heaven!

3:02 PM  
Blogger Saint Peter's helpers said...

Whenever I see a priest incensing, I see an act of profound worship and adoration for God. It does lift you to the Heavens!

Good for that priest who continue this sacred tradition!

3:42 PM  

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