Crotalus (Wooden Clapper)

  • Thread starter Thread starter UIOGD
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
U

UIOGD

Guest
When do you use the Crotalus (wooden clapper)? What is the Rubric #?
 
I think the rubric is from the Roman Missal, Thursday of the Lord’s Supper:

“7. The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is said. While the hymn is being sung, bells are rung, and when it is finished, they remain silent until the Gloria in excelsis of the Easter Vigil, unless, if appropriate, the Diocesan Bishop has decided otherwise. Likewise during the same period, the organ and other musical instruments may be used only so as to support the singing.”
 
We use them on Holy Thursday during Transubstantiation, when bells would normally be used. Then we use them during the procession to the altar of repose. We again use them at the start of the Easter Vigil to replace the bell we ring at the start of any liturgy to signify to all that its time to stand.

EDIT: By we, I mean my parish.
 
Last edited:
You would use the crotalus at any point when you would ordinarily use a bell between the Gloria of Holy Thursday and that of the Easter Vigil, exclusive.
 
Can someone direct me where exactly in the Rubric of the Roman Missal state that.

Thank you all and God bless.
 
I encountered it for the first time just the other day. I can’t remember if it was at Holy Thursday, at the consecration? So, instead of bells, the altar server clapped a pair of wooden blocks together.
 
That’s an instrument from my childhood that I actually miss during the Triduum. I’ve been thinking of buying one for my parish.
 
Go to Fortescue’s chapter on Holy Week and mine his footnotes there. Mine is in the sacristy now, so I cannot provide them for you. Of course, this refers to the 1962 Missal, but the use of the crotalus is continuous with the pre-1955 rites of Holy Week as well. If the 1970 Missal or the GIRM indicates nothing about this, then it is a reasonable conclusion that the silencing of all bells during the Mass of Holy Thursday is a custom that has not been explicitly abrogated and can (and, to my mind, should) still continue.
 
From after the Gloria on Maundy Thursday, to the Gloria on Holy Saturday.
 
Phemie said:
That’s an instrument from my childhood that I actually miss during the Triduum.
Click to expand...
Whereas not being required to use it was a condition in the Union of Brest that brought the Ukrainian Church back into union with Rome . . .

hawk
 
UIOGD said:
Can someone direct me where exactly in the Rubric of the Roman Missal state that.

Thank you all and God bless.
Click to expand...
The Missal states that the bells are not to be used.

There is no particular rubric indicating what should (or may, or might, or could) be used to replace the bells.

The wooden clapper is used as a matter of tradition and liturgical custom.
 
bardegaulois said:
Go to Fortescue’s chapter on Holy Week and mine his footnotes there. Mine is in the sacristy now, so I cannot provide them for you. Of course, this refers to the 1962 Missal, but the use of the crotalus is continuous with the pre-1955 rites of Holy Week as well. If the 1970 Missal or the GIRM indicates nothing about this, then it is a reasonable conclusion that the silencing of all bells during the Mass of Holy Thursday is a custom that has not been explicitly abrogated and can (and, to my mind, should) still continue.
Click to expand...
Was it that the crotalus had to be used or could be used once the bells were silenced?

In my childhood parish we had the ratchet type. I haven’t heard either type during the Triduum in ages. Realistically, it made little sense to use that instrument to replace something that wasn’t used in the first place. But since we do use bells in my present parish, I’d love to use a crotalus next year.
 
My parish doesn’t have one, so a deacon used a wooden gavel instead. He hit it against a wooden table three times during the elevation of the host and the chalice on Holy Thursday, and also at the beginning of the Good Friday service to indicate that we were to stand. The sound made me think of nails being driven through Christ’s hands and feet.
 
This is what I’ve used as a priest. It’s basically the same thing we used when I was an altar boy.
 
I remember one parish that used two short (about 8 inches) pieces of a 2 X 4 joined together with a hinge. Imagine a set of alligator jaws. That one was LOUD!
 
This is what we had at our church when I was growing up, or at least something similar:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Last edited:
Sort of these? My former parish of 8 years always uses these kinds during the time that bells are silenced during the triduum.

It is also used when the effigy of the dead Christ and the sorrowful Mother Mary is processed around the neighborhood after the Good Friday liturgy. The servers would complain about getting bruises in their hands because of using this!

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top