ringing of bells during consecration

[Phikoz]

currently at our 3 parishes we are without a pastor and we have local retired priests who are in residence say mass.

well, one of our retired priests is having a problem with us ringing the bells during consecration. we have been doing it forever but he believes it to be a "distraction".

he has approached our servers and one of my friends who is a server. he asked her to watch this movie about the history of the mass (which has nothing to do with bells ringing, i still have to watch it) and then meet with him to go over this issue.

my friend wants me to go with her to defend the ringing of the bells during consecration as it has been a tradition in our parish and we do not believe it to be a "distraction".

so i am wondering what anyone can dig up on "ringing of the bells during consecration" and if anyone knows what I can do about this retired priest if he is even obstinate to church law.

certainly keep him in your prayers....

thanks

[StColette]

Straight Answers By Fr. William Saunders
HERALD Columnist

I have noticed that some churches ring bells during the Mass while others do not. Is there a rule about the practice? — A reader in Falls Church

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (1970; No.109) 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 epiklesis 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, [the server] also rings the bell at each elevation." 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 long standing 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.

The tradition itself seems to arise around the 13th century, when the common practice became to ring a bell at the consecration. Later, records at Chartres Cathedral in 1399 indicated that a large bell suspended above the choir area was rung at the beginning of the Sanctus to call the people to attention for the coming consecration. Moreover, the sound of the bell was seen to give glory to God. (For this same reason, the Church bell may be rung during the Gloria sung at the Easter Vigil Mass.)

Another reason for the ringing of the bell as well as the high elevation of both the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after the consecration was to affirm that transubstantiation had occurred. In the 1100s, some theologians speculated that the transubstantiation of the bread did not occur until after the words over the chalice had also been pronounced. To counter this notion, the following practice was instituted: After the words of consecration of the bread, the priest elevated the Sacred Host so that it could be seen by all, the bell was rung, and then the priest genuflected after placing the Sacred Host back on the paten on the altar. For example, Cardinal Guido, the papal legate to Germany, promulgated this practice at Cologne in 1201, a practice which was already established in Rome (and throughout much of the Church). To highlight the solemnity of this miraculous moment, an incensation was also allowed at each elevation. Moreover, during the Solemn Mass or High Mass, the great bell of the Church was rung to alert the townsfolk that the consecration had occurred, at which time they would piously kneel and make an act of adoration.

In the old Tridentine Mass, the Missale Romanum, promulgated in 1570 by Pope Pius V, prescribed the ringing of a bell at both the Sanctus and the consecration. When Pope Paul VI issued the revision to the Mass, the practice of ringing a bell was retained as an option (as stated previously).

Since we are a people of senses, sounds are important in our worship, whether in the quiet of the moment, the singing of a congregation, or the sound of the organ. The sound of bells does add to the reverence and the solemnity of the Mass. Most importantly, they highlight in a sensible way the sacred action taking place on the altar. Therefore, we have a tradition that is not only practical but also beautiful.

Just a note: If you have enjoyed reading Straight Answers over the past five years, a book (400 pages in length) of the same title is available with 100 "Straight Answers" about the faith. The book may be purchased at both the Queen of Apostles Family Gift Shop (703/354-0742) and the Pauline Book and Media Center (703/549-3806), both in Alexandria. Mail orders are accepted.

Fr. Saunders is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish, both in Alexandria.

[url="http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990114.htm"]http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/99ws/ws990114.htm[/url]
-------------------------------------

"The ringing of bells during the eucharistic prayer is no longer required by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. In a day when the people could neither see nor hear what the priest was doing, bells provided a 'signal' that something important was about to happen. This need is no longer present. The Order of Mass shows a keen appreciation for the eucharistic prayer as the one 'great prayer' of priest and people. It is indeed the entire eucharistic prayer which is consecratory. In order to foster an appreciation of this seamless character of the eucharistic prayer, the ringing of bells is optional."

[url="http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=45923"]http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=45923[/url]

------------------------------------

[StColette]

[url="http://www.adoremus.org/0305SantusBells.html"]Sanctus Bells: Their History and Use in the Catholic Church[/url]

[phatcatholic]

good job jennie!!

here are some more:

[b]--[url="http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=3665"]Church Bells[/url]
--[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01349b.htm"]New Advent: Altar Bell[/url]
--[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02418b.htm"]New Advent: Bells[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ncd00373.htm"]Altar Bell[/url]
--[url="http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ncd01165.htm"]Bells[/url]
--[url="http://www.ccel.org/php/disp.php3?a=schaff&b=encyc02&p=35"]Bells[/url][/b] (scroll down to the bottom, click "> page" for the rest)

pax christi,
phatcatholic

[qfnol31]

The ringing of the bells is meant to be a distraction.

From everything else.

[StColette]

Bells
[url="http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/bells.html"]http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/bells.html[/url]

Bells and the Church
[url="http://www.martinmdb.com/churchbellfacts.html"]http://www.martinmdb.com/churchbellfacts.html[/url]

Should Bells Toll at Mass
[url="http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/05ws/ws050721.htm"]http://www.catholicherald.com/saunders/05ws/ws050721.htm[/url]

[StColette]

[url="http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=406603&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=2004&Author=&Keyword=bells&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=9&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at="]Ringing Sanctus Bells[/url]

[url="http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=400393&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=2004&Author=&Keyword=bells&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=11&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at="]Bell Ringing during Communion[/url]

[url="http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showresult.asp?RecNum=371368&Forums=0&Experts=0&Days=2003&Author=&Keyword=bells&pgnu=1&groupnum=0&record_bookmark=4&ORDER_BY_TXT=ORDER+BY+ReplyDate+DESC&start_at="]Church Bells[/url]

[url="http://www.geocities.com/sanctusbells/"]Sanctus Bells[/url]

I thought this would be interesting to add since we're on the Bells subject

[url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01487a.htm"]Angelus Bells[/url]

[url="http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/angelus.html"]The Angelus[/url]

[url="http://www.wf-f.org/Angelus.html#anchor691003"]History of the Angelus and the Angelus Bells[/url]

[franciscanheart]

i dont think ive ever seen the word "bells" so many times in one place before....

[Phikoz]

*phew, thanks a lot for all the material

[phatcatholic]

me ----> <---- Jennie

[StColette]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Aug 16 2005, 12:09 PM']me ----> <---- Jennie
[right][snapback]686672[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

rofl

[dspen2005]

aren't bells traditionally rung when the priest consumes the Precious Blood?

[franciscanheart]

not at my church

[Noel's angel]

nope, not at mine either, we have it at the time of the epiklesis in the Eucharistic Prayer and at the two elevations

[dspen2005]

watching the EWTN Mass this is what happens. Also, at an Opus Dei Retreat, the bells were wrung at the epiklesis, the elevations, at the priests genuflections before the Sacred Body and Precious Blood, as well as at the consuming of the Precious Blood by the priest

[zabbazooey]

You need to be distracted from whatever you were letting your mind wander off to!

[son_of_angels]

Yeah, the Bells are supposed to shatter the silence of the consecration and alert you to what is going on, the union of heaven and earth.

[StColette]

My Church still rings the bells, and it really does get your attention to what is going on.

[phatcatholic]

i wish more churches would use them.......

[franciscanheart]

we use bells just not at all of those moments. i mean sometimes we do because the little altar servers ring too early sometimes or think theyre supposed to be ringing when theyre not but .... not on purpose. theyre only rung during the elevation of the host and the wine and i think its been that way since we've been there. or well since my parents have been there. and thats a looooooooooong time.