Bells vs. Chime

  • Thread starter Thread starter stanthonyserver
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

stanthonyserver

Guest
I came across this in one of my liturgical resources:

"A ruling in 1958 by the Congregation of Rites said that it is forbidden “to use in place of blessed bells any kind of mechanical means to imitate or amplify their sound.” This statement was reaffirmed in 1967 and has not been changed."
I have been in churches where they use the organ to ‘chime’ three times when the Host and Chalice are elevated. This article would seem to indicate that this is improper. Can anyone tell me the current thinking on the use of an electronic organ to substitute for the ringing of the bells?

Thank you,
David
 
The 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal has: “150. A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice.” Playing the organ is not ringing a bell. So it would be wrong.

I looked up “bells” in the index to “Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979”, (published by Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4). This led me to a 1967 editorial on page 134 that was originally in French. It refers to the 1958 Instruction of the Congregation of Rites quoting it: “Use in liturgy of instruments and ‘automatic’ devices, for example, the electric organ, phonograph, radio, dictaphone or tape recorder, and the like is absolutely forbidden. This applies to liturgies celebrated either inside a church or outdoors and includes broadcasts of sermons or sacred music, as well as records of singers or a congregation to replace or support the singing at a liturgy” (art. 71). Lastly, it is forbidden “to use in place of blessed bells any kind of mechanical means to imitate or amplify their sound.”

To try and summarize the arguments: “To introduce such recordings would be artificial and, in fact, a lie.” … “The demand for truth and authenticity, so compelling for the people of today makes its presence felt throughout the entire sphere of worship.”

The bottom of page 134 has a 1977 Notitiae answer about using recorded music. Its reply included: “… Already in 1958 Pope Pius XII’s Instruction De musica sacra et sacra Liturgia stated the principle that sound equipment is most useful for the learning of chants and for supporting voices during open-air processions, but that they are barred from celebrations “in a place of worship.” Since that time the norms in official documents have not changed. The one exception is the Directory for Masses with Children no. 32, which mentions use of recorded music, with, however, due caution and prudence. …”

The text of Directory for Masses with Children is at adoremus.org/DMC-73.html . It has: “32. … With these precautions and with due and special discretion, recorded music may also be used in Masses with children, in accord with norms established by the conferences of bishops.”
 
On the same subject, our new parochial vicar has the servers loudly ringing the bells for the entire elevation until the host or chalice is brought back down to the altar. He holds it up for at least a 1/2 minute. I find the bells during this time to be a great distraction. In watching the masses from the Vatican I hear only a short gong right after the words of Institution and until he came the servers only rang the bells for maybe three seconds. I do remember three short rings also but what he has the kids doing is really a great distraction.
 
As I understood it, the 1958 ruling pertained specifically to outdoor electronic bell systems, where a bell-like sound derived either from a recording or miniature tuned metal rods would be broadcast through loudspeakers in the place of actual bronze church bells (which are ordinarily blessed). These were just becoming popular in the 1950’s, especially in America, and systems based on CD recordings or digital samples are quite popular today. Electronic bells are rare outside North America and are generally considered tacky or cheap elsewhere. I have heard many examples of these from all major manufacturers, and none of them come close to the sound of a real bell. Why parishes waste money on these things, I’ll never know.

As for altar bells, some pipe organs have actual tubular chimes that are struck, but most electronic organs have electronically-simulated chimes. In my opinion, neither are appropriate. Altar bells should be handheld and rung by the acolyte. How they are rung is largely determined by local custom, but my preference is that they be rung in short rings of no longer than a second or so: once for the epiclesis, thrice for each elevation, and once when the priest receives from the chalice. Ringing the bell throughout the entire elevation becomes distracting. I like the German tradition of using two sets of bells, high and low pitched, and alternating them at the elevations.

A noteworthy custom involves either striking or pealing one of the tower bells at the Consecration. During the Gloria of the Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday liturgies, it is the outdoor bells that should be rung, not the altar bells.
 
John_Lilburne said:
The 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal has: “150. A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice.” Playing the organ is not ringing a bell. So it would be wrong.
Click to expand...
The bold is the phrase that really peeves my about changes since Vatican II. It always seems that there is some caveat with reagrds to “according to local custom.” This is proper to a certain degree, of couse, if there IS an established local custom. My main problem is that the so-called “local customs” have been invented by the most recent bishop and are no more than 10-20 years old, as far as I can tell. No parish in my diocese rings the bells at any time during mass anymore - as far as I’ve witnessed. Up until the early 90’s when I was an altar boy, I always rang the bell (we didn’t have a multiple bell thingy) after the words of consecration (just like it used to be before VII) Then all of a sudden - no bells anywhere.

Can anyone tell me if this is a liturgical abuse, or if it is permited to eliminate bells altogether by the bishop?
 
Would there be any purpose in pointing out that Sanctus bells were originally supposed to tell the bellringer in the tower when to ring the church bell so people NOT at Mass would know what was happening?
 
Cluny said:
Would there be any purpose in pointing out that Sanctus bells were originally supposed to tell the bellringer in the tower when to ring the church bell so people NOT at Mass would know what was happening?
Click to expand...
That’s not accurate.

The primary purpose of ringing bells at the epiclesis and both major elevations it to create a pleasing sound to God – Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! at the most sublime moments we know here on Earth as a means of giving thanks.

A secondary reason for ringing the bells (large tower bells at that) was as you note to let those not in attendance now that something very special – indeed a miracle was taking part inside the Church.

Over time the ringing of the large tower bells degenerated into ringing small hand-held sets of bells or wall-mounted chimes. This somewhat lamentable technique gave birth to the erroneous notion that the bells were being rung to signal people attending the Mass to pay attention. That was never their function.
 
pickguard1 said:
…Can anyone tell me if this is a liturgical abuse, or if it is permited to eliminate bells altogether by the bishop?
Click to expand...
It’s not an abuse for a bishop to eliminate them altogether --although it would be rather sad.
 
Joannm said:
On the same subject, our new parochial vicar has the servers loudly ringing the bells for the entire elevation until the host or chalice is brought back down to the altar. He holds it up for at least a 1/2 minute. I find the bells during this time to be a great distraction. In watching the masses from the Vatican I hear only a short gong right after the words of Institution and until he came the servers only rang the bells for maybe three seconds. I do remember three short rings also but what he has the kids doing is really a great distraction.
Click to expand...
Our last pastor had the altar servers to do the same. Our present pastor has them to ring the bell at the elevations in three sets of three. The ringing is almost the same amount of time but it is a little easier on the ears.
 
In my parish, the sanctus bells are used once at the epiclesis and at each elevation. At the elevations, the church bells, too, are rung. Then there is another ring of the sanctus bells to call the faithful to communion after the priest has received from the chalice (or said the Communion Antiphon at a weekday Mass).
 
Charioteer said:
That’s not accurate.

The primary purpose of ringing bells at the epiclesis and both major elevations it to create a pleasing sound to God – Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! at the most sublime moments we know here on Earth as a means of giving thanks.

A secondary reason for ringing the bells (large tower bells at that) was as you note to let those not in attendance now that something very special – indeed a miracle was taking part inside the Church.

Over time the ringing of the large tower bells degenerated into ringing small hand-held sets of bells or wall-mounted chimes. This somewhat lamentable technique gave birth to the erroneous notion that the bells were being rung to signal people attending the Mass to pay attention. That was never their function.
Click to expand...
Maybe not their original function but they did have that effect, which IMO was positive.
 
Claire_from_DE said:
Maybe not their original function but they did have that effect, which IMO was positive.
Click to expand...
Some people get distracted or lose their concentration during Mass, and the bells help them to refocus. I’ve seen unsuspecting visitors occasionally jump! However, I believe that the primary benefit of using bells at Mass is to glorify God and beautify the Mass. If it were only meant as a signal, we could use an electric buzzer or submarine diving klaxon. The servers would love it: “. . . do this in memory of Me.” A-oooooo-guh! Ugly but practical.

My parish uses lots of bells; an unusual combination of a typical four-bell handbell, a set of five electric chimes (C-F-A-C-F) from the 1920’s that are rung by pushbuttons set into the altar steps, and a rope-pulled tower bell. At the epiclesis and priest’s communion, only the handbells are rung one short ring. At the elevations, the handbells are given three short rings, alternating with three strikes of one of the five chimes (altar servers are told to pick only one button to press and not to try to play a tune). Meanwhile, someone in the back of the church rings three strikes on the tower bell, which is barely audible inside unless the windows are open. There is also a sanctuary bell inside the door of the sacristy that is rung as a signal for the people to stand at the start of daily Masses.
 
Here’s what we read in Redemptionis Sacramentum, 2004

[53.] While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer “there should be no other prayers or singing, and **the organ **or other musical instruments should be silent”, except for the people’s acclamations that have been duly approved, as described below.

This is itself a reference to GIRM #32 (hence the quotation marks)

Obviously given the fact that GIRM 150 calls for the bells to be rung, in this context bells would not come under the heading of “other musical instruments.”
 
Cluny said:
Would there be any purpose in pointing out that Sanctus bells were originally supposed to tell the bellringer in the tower when to ring the church bell so people NOT at Mass would know what was happening?
Click to expand...
Well, I know at my Parish, the Sanctus bells aren’t very loud, and we still use the old 4-bell setup - when I ring the tower bells before Mass, I can hardly hear what is going on in the Church (we pray the Rosary before Mass, and I ring the bell after 4th Mystery, which generally occurs ~15 minutes before Mass). While I generally close the door to the Choir Loft to prevent the “Addams Family Effect” in the Church (i.e., when they ring for Lurch), even when I have it open to hear the Gloria at Holy Thursday/Holy Saturday it is hard to hear what is going on. So, I think it may be somewhat unlikely that this is the original purpose of the Sanctus bells, especially in the old, large, Eurpoean Churches where it would have originated (our church is a medium sized, 1920’s era, red brick Gothic Church).

One must also remember, the Canon was inaudible in the older form of the Mass. As such, without the bells, it would have been impossible for the congregation otherwise to know when the consecration took place (still is in the Extraordinary Form). Even now, in the Ordinary Form, it is important to emphasize this miraculous occurence. In Parishes that omit the practice, I can’t help but feel like there is something missing…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top