Ringing the bells during Mass

[simms]

Our priest told us that we no longer ring the bells to signify Christ’s presence with us during Mass to indicate the moment Christ is actually present in the bread and wine because some people think Christ would not be present at all times if the bells were rung.

As a convert this process was difficult enough to understand but after much study and prayer so that I cound accept this by faith, I thought I understood that of course, Christ is present everywhere, but in the host there is a moment when the bread and wine become the body, soul and divinity of Christ. It is his real presence and he is with us and in us.

Even protestants believe in Christ’s presence everywhere Christians are gathered together, but the Mass is the BIG difference. I have visited other churches and love the sounding of the bells, which to me is a most sacred moment.

Now I am wondering if I don’t understand this as I should. I would love some feedback on this. Thank you in advance.

 

[Sheen]

A friend of mine who is a priest explained to me that during the middle ages, there was no seating during a Mass. The priest, I believe, said the Mass silently. So we have the congregation “milling about” (if you will) engaged in their own private prayer.

The bells were run at the consecration to alert the mass-goers that the consecration had taken place. You know, “Hey! Youse out there! May we have your attention, please! Jesus is in the building!”

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Sheen’s answer is actually partly correct. During the early part of the life of the Church (from about the 6th century on), a goodly number of Christians were farmers, and sometimes had to be in the fields while Mass was going on. The bells of the Church were rung to let them know that the consecration was taking place so they could pause and pray, perhaps even receive “spiritual communion.”

The early churches did not have pews (that’s a Protestant invention) and so the people stood or sat on the floor. In the East the deacon would make sure people knew something important was happening when he called out “Wisdom, let us be attentive!” In the Latin churches the bells rung for the farmers would, of course, be heard in the church and would call people to pay attention.

Deacon Ed

 

[A.Pelliccio]

My parish plays the organ but it makes a bell sound to signify the moment.

 

[space_ghost]

Interesting… the story I read was that the people standing in the back of church or just outside were unable to here the words of the Priest, so when after the words of consecration were spoken the bells were rung so all those who weren’t close enough to here the words (no PA system) knew the moment of consecration… i hadn’t heard the one about the farmers in the neighboring fields, i guess the Much Larger bells were rung then…

 

[spetreopn]

I have spoken to people who believed that the bells in some way caused the consecration. If any of these people are present, It would be wise not to use the bells. If something is optional and causes scandal then it should be omitted. This is somewhat akin to those who believed that the Eucharist had to be received under both species. The pope at that time mandated that only one species be distributed to the laity, in order to stamp out this heresy.

 

[Sheen]

Thanks for the clarification, Deacon Ed.