Sanctus bells, a signal moment

[Mandi]

I can not even to begin to imagine living without the bells.

I can’t remember exactly when the bells are removed during Lent and replaced with clappers but I know it is only for a short time - but it feels like forever.

The church has been in silent mourning, it is dark and brooding, you go to church but it is empty and sorrowful. They have crucified my Lord and Saviour But death was not their triumph, it was ours… There is nothing more dramatic than the Gloria at Easter Midnight Mass, the organ is played once again as the voices of the choir rejoice, the altar boys remove the purple shrouds, the lilies pour on the Altar and all the while the bells are ring loudly and profusely as if the angels are crying out to the multitudes, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!

 

[Fergal]

We have the bells. Before I was involved in training the Altar servers they would ring them better than Quasimodo!! They just did not know when to stop!!

Now they are rung once when the spirit is called to come upon the gifts and three times at each elevation.

When the Altar servers are not present the laity take them down to their pews:bigyikes: and hey presto Quasimodo is ressurected.

 

[Patrick]

csr:

This is false, the Mass was followed perfectly.

They prayed the Mass devoutly, as is evident from prayer books pre-dating the Second Vatican Council.

Please don’t criticise the faith of Catholics who are either no longer present here, or who are not in the age category likely to be found using the Internet chat sites. Bells have a beautiful heritage and were by no means a way of waking up spiritually dead Catholics. What will you say to them in heaven, by the way, assuming the meeting occurs?

Whoa csr … you really read a lot into my post that wasn’t intended. I certainly have no criticisms for the faith of these Catholics. Quite the opposite - I admire them greatly. They gathered in these dimly lit buildings for mass presided by a priest that was a football field away without a microphone. We have many luxuries that they didn’t including heat and air conditioning. I’m afraid that having visited many of the large churches both in Israel and Italy, I stand by the realities of my opinion. By the way, if the bells weren’t meant to alert people to something happening, what were they for? I would really appreciate a source your help in providing a source to support your contention that this was not the purpose for bells.

I’m sure that I will not be worthy enough to meet these Catholic ancestors in heaven. I only pray for God’s healing grace to help me.

Please don’t be angry with someone just because you don’t agree with them.

May God bless you.

Patrick