I miss the bells

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Nap66

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It’s been awhile since I have attended church. Now that I’m back, I miss the bells at consecration. When did they go away? It always gave the altar boys (back in the day before they become altar servers) something to do. Plus, the altar boys always seemed to be late on the take with the ringing and the priest would always look disturbed. Good Memories!

I guess I just miss the bells. Do they still do the incense during special masses such as Ash Wednesday and Christmas? Or has that gone away too?
 
Ringing bells at the consecration, and the use of incense, is an optional matter, up to the pastor and priest celebrant. The use of altar bells dates to a time when the people could not see the altar clearly, and/or could not hear or understand the priest at the altar. The bells let everyone know when the consecration had taken place. Many believe that they are no longer necessary.
 
It depends on the church, but I still hear bells from time to time and not just at TLM.

As for incense, yes that is still trotted out on special days, and again not just at TLM.
 
We always use bells . Incense is used at Benediction or special Masses.
 
I like burning incense, or I used to. Now, I have asthma and allergies and I can tell there are at least a few people in church with COPD – not a good mix. Some years ago, I read that burning incense is really not good for anybody.

It is popular, and in the instructions from God to Moses, incense was a special blend that was not to be used anywhere but in the wilderness temple lest it be profaned.

At one church Mass I attended, which was concelebrated, somebody decided to smoke the place up to the max. Well, the priest did, and the altar and the priests almost disappeared in the cloud. I’m was surprised that nobody passed out.
 
When I was an altar boy, we had a perfectly good set of ‘tinkle’ style bells which were obviously harmonized. Then, someone decided to upgrade those to a set with more clapper-style bells, which had flat notes to them. I didn’t like it.

The older boys (7th and 8th grade boys) would give the bells a firm, declaratory, and intentional sounding. Some boys, however, seemed to be afraid of making any sound, and there was just a feeble tinkling. There was some talent and ‘ear’ helpful to sounding the bells.

I suppose as time went by, with the Mass in the vernacular, the bells were upstaging the words of institution, which quickly decided their fate.
 
The bells should not be a deal breaker for anyone.
In the old massive Cathedrals where many Masses were offered simultaneously, they were an absolute necessity.
The altar servers have PLENTY to do. The bells do not function as a child pacifier.
Go to another parish that has bells, Problem solved. Every parish I have been in has had bells, although my last parish had the bells go silent during Lent.
 
My regular parish uses bells. It is one of the few in my area that does.
I like them, but it is not a “deal-breaker” for me.
I do prefer the bells to the “clapper” that is used by our Vietnamese parish.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
My regular parish uses bells. It is one of the few in my area that does.
I like them, but it is not a “deal-breaker” for me.
I do prefer the bells to the “clapper” that is used by our Vietnamese parish.
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HA! In Ireland they use a gong! EEK!
 
At our cathedral the Sanctus bells are rung at every Mass - Sundays and weekdays. Incense is still used at the 11 am Mass on Sundays as a norm (that’s our most solemn weekly Mass) and otherwise at the priest’s discretion.
 
They are still used in a few places around the archdiocese where our schola sings.

At the local abbey, they do not have sanctus bells. Instead they ring the main church bell three gongs at the consecration: three gongs at the raising of the host and 3 at the cup.
 
We have bells with all our masses and incense on Sundays at 1130 mass. I love them both. It’s not a condition of going to church but it is a special treat.
I don’t enjoy the clapper that are used occasionally
 
Completely depends on the parish. Some do and some don’t. Most parishes have the incense. Personally, I love the bells. I also like older churches with the big church bells that ring out the hour, and use a special tune for the angelus and the three o clock hour. There isn’t any church bells here and I miss them very much. Not sorry to have never heard a clapper. Sounds rather dreadful 😊
 
Still use the bells in my Parish. It’s not in the GIRM to do so. It’s at the discretion of the Pastor.
 
Hahaha… Visit my parish since I ring the sanctus bells every morning. Well except when we have mass for our diaconal formation class. Those are at a parish with Polish priests so we have a sanctus gong in their place. We also use incense at each of our formation masses.

Long and short it depends on the parish. Some use both, one or the other, or none. Some reserve them for the most solemn celebrations and others are more open to their use throughout the year. Personally I like having the “bells and smells” as it helps remind me of the spiritual significance of various liturgical actions. Mass without them makes me feel like some do if there is no music, like we are missing something or we are shooting for good enough. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to not use them, but simply that it makes me feel like some see various masses as less important; like we shouldn’t put the same care into a daily mass as we do for Easter. Again just my feeling.
 
Oneofthewomen said:
My regular parish uses bells. It is one of the few in my area that does.
I like them, but it is not a “deal-breaker” for me.
I do prefer the bells to the “clapper” that is used by our Vietnamese parish.
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Bluebright said:
We have bells with all our masses and incense on Sundays at 1130 mass. I love them both. It’s not a condition of going to church but it is a special treat.
I don’t enjoy the clapper that are used occasionally
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Just curious if they use a “clapper” throughout the year? There is a “liturgical rattle” called a crotalus that is traditionally used during the Triduum, between the Gloria on Holy Thursday and the Gloria at the Easter Vigil. It is used during that time as an replacement since the altar bells are not supposed to be rung during that time. I have never heard a clapper like thing outside of that time so was just curious if it was a cultural difference or just something that people experienced, but did not connect with a specific liturgical season.
 
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PaulfromIowa said:
Ringing bells at the consecration, and the use of incense, is an optional matter, up to the pastor and priest celebrant. The use of altar bells dates to a time when the people could not see the altar clearly, and/or could not hear or understand the priest at the altar. The bells let everyone know when the consecration had taken place. Many believe that they are no longer necessary.
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Sorta.

What was customary was the ring the Church bells themselves, so that people who were not at Mass could stop, face the Church, and give reverence to Blessed Sacrament being offered.

Church bells are a sign of joy and celebration, and they were commonly also rung at great news or events.

The use of the Church bells was reduced to simple bells at the altar, but the symbolic purpose remains the same, the celebration of a great event.

Is that necessary, no. It is was it would not be an option, but would be mandatory. But it still retains a purpose.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
…Many believe that they are no longer necessary.
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Not saying you feel they are not necessary, but why do people do that? If you have something use it for The Lord! Don’t let it sit there and rot like some museum piece. Like not using the fine china when you have special guests, or cooking a wonderful meal for everyone when you have the ingredients. Jesus turned water into great tasting wine that surprised the heck out of everyone at that wedding. It was Judas that thought the repentant prostitutes pouring of precious oil onto Jesus was wasteful.

I miss the bells too. If it were me ringing them, I’d ring 'em LOUD! … and with joy. And I don’t like the computerized non-bell bells… like fake flickering electric candles. I understand the convenience, but its just fake. Its not real. The symbolism is lost. … Not to mention the lost art of making bells. We have lost a lot of good arts and crafts skills due to modern technology. No one to hand those skills down to anymore and no one can make a living learning and practicing the craft. (And yes, I’m sure there are still a few that make bells, but few of anything does not guarantee, or weakens the possibility its continuation)

Perhaps the problem these days is more of a possible public noise problem- Like how where I live people are complaining about the calls to prayer emanating from a mosque. I would assume that has more to do with it than anything- people complain. IN the days when they were used all the time, everyone was Catholic in the area, or just about. So I’m sure no one was to complain. It just was how things were and people accepted it.
 
Brendan said:
…
Church bells are a sign of joy and celebration, and they were commonly also rung at great news or events.
…
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Not only that but were a signal to pray. When we hear funeral bells, it means for the people of the land to pray for the deceased who is being laid to rest that day. Bells also could signal a problem or a warning- like floodwaters, uncontrolled fire, a bad storm or an approaching army.

… oh and forgot to mention, they could signal the time… Not everyone owned a clock.
 
Hello Nap66,
Maybe if you try another parish, or even a different Mass time at the same parish, there will be bells? I totally agree with you - - I love all the bells! There are a couple of parishes in my city that will ring the big steeple bells during consecration - - it’s awesome! Hope you find some in your area!
 
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