Miss the bells at Mass?

[WanderAimlessly]

At my current parish, the bells are still used and that seems to be the standard for the parishes that I have visited in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

However, saying that, there is one parish in the area that recently renovated their church. The new sanctuary area has a fixed device that looks like a tuning fork that is used instead of the bells The only problem is that the reverberation can last for a very long time if the person who strikes it does not physically stop it after a few seconds.

Anyone else come across this.
PF

 

[Lamb100]

Interesting discussion! I didn’t know that some saints thought the bells have some sort of power–can you explain this further?

I guess I might have voted differently if I’d know the old way was to ring them a bunch of times. We ring them once at the consecration of each element (so–twice). That’s why I voted yes–I like this. It’s only available at one of our two churches.

The reason why I like it is this–I’m a new convert, and while I was still searching, and didn’t really understand the Mass (I’d only been in a Catholic church once before in my whole life), I went to Mass with my daughter on–it just happened to be–Corpus Christi Sunday. And when the bells rang, it was like, “Oh, my God–it’s really true!” My life hasn’t been the same since. I cherish this precious memory.

 

[Matthaeus]

Lamb100:

Interesting discussion! I didn’t know that some saints thought the bells have some sort of power–can you explain this further?

I guess I might have voted differently if I’d know the old way was to ring them a bunch of times. We ring them once at the consecration of each element (so–twice). That’s why I voted yes–I like this. It’s only available at one of our two churches.

The reason why I like it is this–I’m a new convert, and while I was still searching, and didn’t really understand the Mass (I’d only been in a Catholic church once before in my whole life), I went to Mass with my daughter on–it just happened to be–Corpus Christi Sunday. And when the bells rang, it was like, “Oh, my God–it’s really true!” My life hasn’t been the same since. I cherish this precious memory.

You would enjoy my booklet on the history and used of Sanctus bells that can be downloaded at no cost from:

geocities.com/sanctusbells/

Keep in mind that it just wasn’t saints – MANY (most?) people from many different cultures once believed that the noise made by clanging metal (including bells) had special powers to ward off evil spirits…

Cheers, and welcome Home.

 

[Fogny]

katherine2:

I’m a member of a very progressive parish and we use them at every Mass.

However pleasing they may be, I don’t think failure to use them is an indication of the smell of Satan.

In fact, if their use is considered to be saving us from that, I would ask for their discontinuation rather than suggest a falsity.

You have to be kidding. If not you surely are progressive, I will be sure to not visit your parish.

Fogny