Comments on: Ringing of Bells During Consecration http://stcatherinevallejo.org/index.php/2009/05/ringing-of-bells-during-consecration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ringing-of-bells-during-consecration Roman Catholic Church located in Vallejo, California Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:33:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Helen Dris http://stcatherinevallejo.org/index.php/2009/05/ringing-of-bells-during-consecration/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Helen Dris Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:52:02 +0000 http://stcatherinevallejo.org/?p=442#comment-127 I am in favor of the bells. I have to admit, no matter how much everyone try to concentrate on the service going on, there are a lot of distraction at church. People walking in late, talking, crying, cell phone's ringing, etc. The sounds of the bells call our minds back to what's going on at the altar. It brings focus to the mass. thank you. I am in favor of the bells.

I have to admit, no matter how much everyone try to concentrate on the service going on, there are a lot of distraction at church. People walking in late, talking, crying, cell phone’s ringing, etc. The sounds of the bells call our minds back to what’s going on at the altar. It brings focus to the mass. thank you.

]]> By: Elaine Rairden http://stcatherinevallejo.org/index.php/2009/05/ringing-of-bells-during-consecration/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Elaine Rairden Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:19:51 +0000 http://stcatherinevallejo.org/?p=442#comment-110 I attended the First Communion Mass on May 16 and was startled and distracted by the loud ringing bells at the elevation during the Eucharistic Prayer. I thought the bells were rung because it was a special mass for the children, but then the bells were also rung at the 5:30 later that day. I am not in favor of this practice because I treasure moments of silence during the mass. Liturgists are aware of the effective use of silence throughout our liturgical celebrations. Silence encourages the assembly to become centered in prayer. The period of silence after each lector proclaims the Word allows the assembly to reflect on the reading. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there is silence as the assembly listens to the prayers of the presider and prepares to witness the consecration This sacred silence and its peace are shattered when the bells are loudly rung during the elevation of the Body and Blood of Christ. My vote is no bells please. However, I offer this compromise - (this reference is 29 years old and the Instruction may have been revised): "The Liturgy Documents, a Parish Resource" published 1980 by Liturgy Training Program, Archdiocese of Chicago, page 110, General Instructions on the New Roman Missal, Section 109: "A little before the consecration, the minister may ring a bell as a signal to the people. According to the local custom, he also rings the bell at each elevation." If one needs to hear a bell to be called to attention, ringing it at the elevation only is too late. One's attention should be directed to the consecration and then the elevation. So -- one, single bell, not four, and rung only once each time. One bell, one ring -- does not shatter the sacred silence and effectively calls one's attention to the action at the altar. Thank you. I attended the First Communion Mass on May 16 and was startled and distracted by the loud ringing bells at the elevation during the Eucharistic Prayer. I thought the bells were rung because it was a special mass for the children, but then the bells were also rung at the 5:30 later that day. I am not in favor of this practice because I treasure moments of silence during the mass. Liturgists are aware of the effective use of silence throughout our liturgical celebrations. Silence encourages the assembly to become centered in prayer. The period of silence after each lector proclaims the Word allows the assembly to reflect on the reading. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there is silence as the assembly listens to the prayers of the presider and prepares to witness the consecration This sacred silence and its peace are shattered when the bells are loudly rung during the elevation of the Body and Blood of Christ. My vote is no bells please.

However, I offer this compromise – (this reference is 29 years old and the Instruction may have been revised): “The Liturgy Documents, a Parish Resource” published 1980 by Liturgy Training Program, Archdiocese of Chicago, page 110, General Instructions on the New Roman Missal, Section 109: “A little before the consecration, the minister may ring a bell as a signal to the people. According to the local custom, he also rings the bell at each elevation.” If one needs to hear a bell to be called to attention, ringing it at the elevation only is too late. One’s attention should be directed to the consecration and then the elevation. So — one, single bell, not four, and rung only once each time. One bell, one ring — does not shatter the sacred silence and effectively calls one’s attention to the action at the altar. Thank you.

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