Bells!

[lak611]

Pealing means swinging the bell back and forth by its yoke, as is normally done before Mass. Tolling involves single strikes from a hammer mounted underneath or to the side of the bell, which pops up to strike the bell while the bell itself remains still. This is common for funeral tolls, hour (clock) strikes, or for the Angelus. Neither pealing nor tolling can change the pitch of a bell, which always remains the same, but pealing it gives a Doppler effect and almost doubles the sound output.

Many American churches have bells that cannot swing (dead hung), but are struck with electric hammers. A peal in this case would involve repeated striking. A typical English peal (rare in America) would start with the bell upside-down, rotating 360º, and stopping again upside-down, to be reversed in the next rope pull. Normally, several such bells are sounded in mathematical sequences called change ringing. Eastern Orthodox churches perform similar rhythmic sequences on dead hung bells, while bells in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America are a combination of dead-hung bells rung in sequence and “esquilas” which are bells flipped end-over-end by people standing behind them, or occasionally a motor.

Wow, that is great. Thanks for the info. I guess the higher pitches for the pealing is because they use the smaller bells then. I noticed for the tolling for funerals the bells don’t swing back and forth, but they use the big bell. I noticed for the pealing that usually the medium and small bells are used. I also noticed most churches use three bells. My church has the electronic hammers (it’s a newer church, built in 1969). I have been to older churches that ring bells with ropes still. In fact, I was at a tour of an old Congregational church last year and got to go in the bell tower and inside the pipe organ as part of the tour. I never did learn how the bells operate though because our tour was around 9:00 p.m., and the neighbours probably would have been upset by church bells ringing at that time.

 

[InTheWilderness]

The parish I often go to noon mass at on weekdays rings bells at several point. There is a triple set of bells mounted by the side door to the sanctuary, and it is rung once as the priest and servers enter at the start of mass.

At the epiclesis the quad altar bells are rung. At each elevation, the altar bells are rung three times.

This church has no bell tower, but the old courthouse across the street has a clock and bell tower at the top of its main dome.

On the issue of bell towers, my home parish has a single bell mounted in a rather high tower. It is currently electrically operated. There are sets of timers in the sacristy that control the tolling of the bell on the hours. Also it is set to ring before Sunday masses. There are also three switches that can be used to ring the bell without the timers. The bell does swing. There is also at least one hammer. Each switch produces a significantly different sound, even though there is only one bell. (The Baptist church down the street has a very short and stout bell tower with at least four bells. It is the only church in town that has multiple bells so far as I know.) In eighth grade religion class we were able to climb up to the level of the bell in the tower, but I don’t remember all the details. (We also crawled around under the church and paid a visit to the crypt of the first pastor.) My dad told me about when he was an altar server as a kid, they would ring the bell using ropes.

My home parish does not use bells at the consecration, though I remember there used to be at least one set in the vault with the sacramental vessels and such, so perhaps it will happen again in the future. Also, it would be quite easy to send someone to flip one of the switches.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

There is a triple set of bells mounted by the side door to the sanctuary, and it is rung once as the priest and servers enter at the start of mass.

This is called a sanctuary bell, and is traditionally used to start the Mass. I have personally installed them in two parishes, and they are a reverent alternative to the cantor giving a long-winded introduction. In Germany, nearly every church uses one, and quite often the opening hymn (to which ALL the verses are normally sung) is begun sitting down. The people stand with the bell as the priest and acolytes enter.

the issue of bell towers, my home parish has a single bell mounted in a rather high tower. It is currently electrically operated. There are sets of timers in the sacristy that control the tolling of the bell on the hours. Also it is set to ring before Sunday masses. There are also three switches that can be used to ring the bell without the timers. The bell does swing. There is also at least one hammer. Each switch produces a significantly different sound, even though there is only one bell.

Sounds like a Verdin system. You probably have one switch marked “peal” which swings the bell via a motor and a chain. The next switch is probably marked “toll” and causes a hammer alongside the bell to strike it once every ten seconds or so. The third is probably a pushbutton marked something like “inst. toll” which operates the tolling hammer once with every push, so you can ring your own Angelus or strike it for the Consecration.

One parish nearby has four bells with controls just inside the sacristy. Their altar bell is a large, bronze “mushroom gong” from the 1890’s which is given three strikes. When I have served Masses there, I would reach into the sacristy and push the striker button so that each stroke of the gong would be followed by a strike on one of the tower bells.

 

[lak611]

Sounds like a Verdin system. You probably have one switch marked “peal” which swings the bell via a motor and a chain. The next switch is probably marked “toll” and causes a hammer alongside the bell to strike it once every ten seconds or so. The third is probably a pushbutton marked something like “inst. toll” which operates the tolling hammer once with every push, so you can ring your own Angelus or strike it for the Consecration.

That’s what my parish has. Even though it is modern, so bells do not swing, I remember we got a Verdin system because we got the bells fixed a few years ago. I’ll have to check out the switches sometime. I know the organist takes care of it.

 

[didymus]

This sounds like a case of confusion. They were probably not concelebrating. If they were, the full chasuble-stole-alb combo would be needed in most cases (sometimes the chasuble may be omitted). Did they say any part of the Eucharistic prayer? In the TLM, there was no concelebration, and priests assisted in choir dress with stole; this sounds like what happened to you.

Well, they stood flanking him at the altar and had their hands extended toward the hosts and chalice during the consecration. After the Consecration each took a turn reading the remainder of the Eucharistic prayer. So, yes, I’m pretty sure they were concelebrating.

 

[Titus]

Well, they stood flanking him at the altar and had their hands extended toward the hosts and chalice during the consecration. After the Consecration each took a turn reading the remainder of the Eucharistic prayer. So, yes, I’m pretty sure they were concelebrating.

Then it was an abuse. Concelebrants must wear the alb and stole, and unless there are huge numbers, also the chasuble.

 

[turtleoompa]

Why did they get rid of the bells? I love them!

 

[fnz2thrght]

my church just started back with them about a year ago too. I almost cried when I heard them. I think the bells went out with the altar rail. lol Probably before that actually. Bells gone in the 80’s at some point in our parish and altar rail in the mid 90’s.

I thought my kids were going to jump out of the pew. They had new idea.

 

[Rick777]

It’s a sad day when Catholics are rejoicing over the ringing of bells at the Consecration.

 

[lak611]

It’s a sad day when Catholics are rejoicing over the ringing of bells at the Consecration.

Why? The Consecration is the essential part of the Mass, when the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. It doesn’t get any better than that.

 

[LeahInancsi]

We still have the bells and I expect we will continue to have them as long as our current pastor is in power.

The day it becomes obvious that the bells have been done away with, the new pastor will hear from me personally with the donation of bells.

The bells are one of the most beautiful parts of mass. IHMO

 

[Rick777]

Why? The Consecration is the essential part of the Mass, when the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. It doesn’t get any better than that.

LOL. I couldn’t agree with you more. I should have been more specific. It’s a sad day when Catholics are rejoicing over something that should be commonplace in the liturgy.

 

[fnz2thrght]

When I was a child this is what was told - that ringing of the bells announced to you that Jesus was present, and it also drew your attention to where it should be, the altar. So for me, ringing of the bells is just respect for the Consecration.

 

[cue]

Why did they get rid of the bells? I love them!

The people I know that hate bells also reject the teaching of the Church that the words of Consercation effect the Sacrament. They say the bread and wine don’t change at these words (as the Church does) and say the whole prayer consecrates. It is their way of rejecting a fossil of the past.

 

[didymus]

Are the bells supposed to be rung during Lent?

From my altar boy days (forty years ago) I seem to recall that on Ash Wednesday the bells were rung though the Gloria after which neither was heard again until Easter.

But things have continued as they were with our pastor omitting the bells and our assistant including them.

 

[fnz2thrght]

I’m pretty sure there are no bells, though I have to admit, I didn’t notice today. That was one of the really great things about Easter Mass, all the bells, all the Glorias.

 

[LeahInancsi]

We had bells today. The mass I attended was said by a very strict, orthodox, traditional priest. If they should not have been rung, they wouldn’t have.

 

[Sheeniac]

It’s funny - I’m so used to hearing the bells, that when I go to a Church that does not use them, I do a little “ching-ching-ching” in my head.

~Liza

I thought I was the ONLY one who did that! Depending on who is celebrating mass at my parish (we have 4 different priests), the bells may not be rung.

Last week, we had a pre-Confirmation meeting (for those of us not needing to go through RCIA). We were taking turns reading through the handouts. One of my parts was the consecration, and throwing caution to the wind, I added ‘ringy-dingy-dingy’ to the end of the words.

The pastoral associate and I had a brief discussion about the bells (she was against them, and at another point, she made mention of how the priest used to pray to the wall pre-VII). She looked shocked when I told her that I felt like the Holy Spirit just reached inside me and grabbed my soul when the bells ring.

 

[Veronica]

We have bells and I have been attending our parish since the mid 80’s. Our altar BOYS have some trouble with visiting priest because they get so use to one priest and how long or short they hold up the host and wine. Our bells are rung as long as the host and wine are elevated. You can also tell when we have a new boy in training.

I also am a member of our Liturgy Committee because I am the coordinator of our Ushers. We have to follow our Pastors orders because we are there to serve him and the parish. Our job is to do all the scheduling, training, decorating, etc. And to make sure the liturgy is carried out correctly.

Our Pastor will let us know if we are doing anything incorrectly. And we correct it.

Our Pastor is in his early 40’s and is orthodox in liturgy and in general. We have the NO Mass, perpetual Adoration, altar boys, bells, incense when called for, stained glass windows, etc. We are in the Archdiosece of Seattle and are on the list of the 10 most conservative churches in the Archdiosece.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bremerton, WA

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Are the bells supposed to be rung during Lent?

From my altar boy days (forty years ago) I seem to recall that on Ash Wednesday the bells were rung though the Gloria after which neither was heard again until Easter.

I’m not sure whether there was a rubric about this in the past, but there is not one now. They may be rung during Lent. In the past, churches sometimes used a wooden clacker to represent the sound of the nails being hammered into Jesus’ hands and feet. Some parishes used it throughout Lent and others only during Holy Week. A couple of years ago we used a similar device on Palm Sunday which brought some people to tears, including the priest.

Just a note that during the Gloria on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday, it is the outside tower bells that are supposed to be rung rather than the altar bells as some parishes do, but I guess ringing the altar bells is better than nothing if the church doesn’t have a tower bell.