Sanctus Bells: should they be brought back?

[Spiller]

I absolutely love them. They are used at every Mass in our parish. Something about them has conditioned extreme emotions of goodness for me.

I would guess that a few years ago I rang the sanctus bells at my parish during the Mass for the first time in possibly 20-30 years. Even from the sanctuary you could see the drop-jawed smiles of amazement and even the glistening eye or two.

People indeed love bells – all bells. Sadly sanctus bells are often singled-out as targets from the “spirit of VC2 reformers.”

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

We still have bells. There are bells are almost every Mass I’ve been to in the area.

 

[Tracy07]

Hi all in our parish we still use them at mass and also the big bell, in our neighbouring parish they dont use the big bell but do still use the sanctus bells
x

 

[jc-servant]

I think it is very shaky to assume that most Catholics today correctly understand (or believe in) what is happening at the consecration.

I don’t assume that anyone believes what happens in the mass, but unless they have a mental limitation they should know that it is the moment of consecration by simply listening to the words spoken in the vernacular.

 

[Lepanto]

I don’t assume that anyone believes what happens in the mass, but unless they have a mental limitation they should know that it is the moment of consecration by simply listening to the words spoken in the vernacular.

I’m cradle Catholic with faithful attendance and a proud product of years of CCD classes after school.

Years after graduating CCD, I would NEVER have known what happens at that point in the Mass had I not read about it on my own.

 

[mercygate]

I’m cradle Catholic with faithful attendance and a proud product of years of CCD classes after school.

Years after graduating CCD, I would NEVER have known what happens at that point in the Mass had I not read about it on my own.

I am really interested in what you say. I teach 6th grade CCD, and am forever tossing doctrinal and liturgical tidbits into my curriculum on Scripture. I give the kids a tour of the sanctuary and show them the reliquary in the altar, and explain why the holy oils are kept as they are . . . I’ll toss in this point next year!

 

[ABalch]

I read through this thread and was surprised. By the original poster it would seem the sanctus bells went away. I don’t believe I have ever been to a mass that did not have sanctus bells rung.

Granted, I only entered the Catholic Church back in 2003, but even before I became Catholic, I had often heard the Church referred to with the phrase “bells and smells”. That second part is what I wish for to happen more often at mass. I LOVE the smell of the incense. And, on the occassions it happens (usually Easter and Christmas only for the most part at my parish), I love the just how much more revernetial it seems when the altar, and the Gospel are incensed, along with the priest and the congregation before the reading of the Gospel.

Who agrees? Bring back not only the bells, but also the smells?

God Bless all of you,
Albert

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

I have been to most of the parishes in my diocese and all of them use altar bells. The cathedral has a recently-restored triple gong, three feet tall, that is rung with a hammer and has a deep, resonant tone. My own parish has the usual set of bronze handbells as well as a 1920’s-vintage set of five tubular chimes controlled by pushbuttons set into the step of the high altar. They are occasionally used with the handbells. We also strike the tower bell three times at each elevation. Also, many parishes have recently installed sacristy bells by the sacristy door to signal the beginning of Mass.

Most parishes here ring the bells once at the epeclesis and either once or thrice at each elevation. Some also ring them at the priest’s communion, and they are also rung during Eucharistic benedictions.

Here are some German and Austrian websites that sell altar bells, gongs, and sacristy bells. Unlike most newer American bells, these are often sold in high/low pitched pairs and are tuned.

kirchenausstattung.at/kirchenbedarf-glocken-c-25_110.html

schreibmayr.de/en/Church-Supplies/Glocken

haber-brandner.de/eshop/index.php/cat/c175_Altarglocken.html

 

[japhy]

As the author of that booklet you’re downloading, let me give you an example.

Nice work, sir. (Would you mind PM’ing me with a description of intinction in the Byzantine Rite? Seriously. I want to make sure I’m explaining it correctly in a blog post of mine, and I’d rather hear it from someone who experiences it first-hand.)

We had a pastor here locally that hated the bells. … He was backed-up by the “liturgical committee” who claimed not only were the bells unnecessary (they used the fallacious Latin argument) but that their use had been outlawed by VC2. That rubbish caused me to write the booklet.

That’s sad… it would’ve been nicer if it was simply your zeal for bells. I think I’ll eventually reach rubbish-stage with some particulars of the Mass that seem to be overlooked and underappreciated.

 

[kell0618]

In my experience, most “Ordinary Form” parishes did away with sanctus bells years (decades) ago, and most Catholics under 20 or 30 may have never even heard them or know what they are.

Do you think sanctus bells should be re-instituted and used regularly? Why or why not?

Here’s an excellent resource on the topic:

geocities.com/sanctusbells/

I didn’t know the Sanctus bells went anywhere. We still have them at my parish, and all of the churches within my diocese that I have ever attended have them as well.

God be with you,

Kelly

P.S. I’d like to add that my 9-year old son is an altar server and takes this part of his duty very seriously. I love the bells and when I hear them I bow my head deeply, knowing what has just taken place before me.

 

[jbebeau]

A dubium was submitted to the Congregation for Divine Worship on this question. Here is the text and reply.

Q: Is a bell to be rung at Mass?

R: It all depends on the different circumstances of places and people, as is clear from GIRM no. 109*: “A little before the consecration, the server may ring a bell as a signal to the faithful. Depending on local custom, he also rings the bell at the showing of both the host and the chalice.” From a long and attentive catechesis and education in liturgy, a particular liturgical assembly may be able to take part in the Mass with such attention and awareness that it has no need of this signal at the central part of the Mass. This may easily be the case, for example, with religious communities or with particular or small groups. The opposite may be presumed in a parish or public church, where there is a different level of liturgical and religious education and where often people who are visitors or are not regular churchgoers take part. In these cases the bell as a signal is entirely appropriate and is sometimes necessary. To conclude: usually a signal with the bell should be given, at least at the two elevations, in order to elicit joy and attention: Not 8 (1972) 343.

• GIRM 2002, no. 150: A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice.

 

[adrift]

When we moved to our present parish twenty plus years ago, there were bells. The next parish priest removed them. Six years later with a new pastor they were returned. Four years later under another priest they were removed. Another new pastor restored them this past year. If the parishioners had been asked, they would never have left.

They are an options left up to the priest as it should be. I wish though that they would consider the parish.

 

[jbebeau]

adrift,

You raise a good point. While a pastor is responsible for the welfare of the parish and its liturgy. It would be unwise to change everything to suit his personal preference, especially when you remove something that is permitted and the faithful like. A genuine discernment needs to take place. Sometimes with so many different things going on in liturgy this can be really tough.

It seems we are left with a few different situation.

A pastor removes an illicit practice, even if it has been done for years. The people may like it, but since it contradicts Church law it should be ended. Fairly clear, although it should be done well.

A pastor introduces an illicit practice. Even if some people like it this is wrong.

A pastor removes a permitted or optional element, example bells or incense, etc. While he is permitted Church law to do so, it this wise or prudent, especially if he is doing so for reasons of personal preference. It could do damage to the faithful especially if done poorly.

A pastor introduces or re-introduces a permitted or optional element. This is one of the most difficult and can vary in scope. It could be introducing the bells, or the biretta, or moving the tabernacle to a place permitted by the GIRM or celebration ad orientem. This can cause delight for some, confusion for others, and even contempt from some. A lot is due to poor catechesis and a good pastor will use the opportunity to teach. A great deal of prudence needs to be involved here.

 

[pnewton]

I love the bells. I find them to be a great addition. We use them every Mass.

 

[Spiller]

Nice work, sir. (Would you mind PM’ing me with a description of intinction in the Byzantine Rite? Seriously. I want to make sure I’m explaining it correctly in a blog post of mine, and I’d rather hear it from someone who experiences it first-hand.)

The two species are prepared at a side altar and then brought to the altar of sacrifice as small cubes of prosphora (blessed bread) and sacramental wine. They are confected into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity separately. The clerics take or receive communion before the co-mingling. The consecrated cubes are then added to the Precious Blood already in the chalice(s) Communion is distributed on one’s tongue by a priest or deacon using a special spoon. Servers hold a purificator under the communicant’s chin.

Just make sure to open your mouth, tilt your head back and DO NOT stick out your tongue!

 

[mkat83]

Our parish music director has started using a bell tone on the organ in the past year or so. We have not have actual bells since I have been at this particular parish, but I like the effect of having bells, even if it is via the organ.

 

[ruslan]

We still have them. I do like them.:harp:

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Our parish music director has started using a bell tone on the organ in the past year or so. We have not have actual bells since I have been at this particular parish, but I like the effect of having bells, even if it is via the organ.

I played at one parish where there were usually no altar servers, so the priest wanted me to play a few notes on the organ’s electronic chimes at the elevations. It was really tacky. I would have rather had the altar bells at the organ with me and rang those.

 

[Eric_Olsen]

Most parishes here in the Philadelphia archdiocese use them.
My parish when I started attending mass there did not have them at first because the current pastor insisted on not using them claiming “they are not in the rubrics so we don’t ring them”. Recently they renovated the church ( and it actually looks more Catholic now!! ) and brought back the sanctus bells to the delight of myself and other parishioners.

 

[anamchara]

In my experience, most “Ordinary Form” parishes did away with sanctus bells years (decades) ago, and most Catholics under 20 or 30 may have never even heard them or know what they are.

Do you think sanctus bells should be re-instituted and used regularly? Why or why not?

Here’s an excellent resource on the topic:

geocities.com/sanctusbells/

Lepanto, I wonder about the threads you start are you a traditionalists my friend?

Anyway, to answer your question. Both parishes I have attended use them. Infact when I was the altar server coordinator the priest let me buy new sanctus bells. I don’t believe I have been to a parish where I haven’t seen them and these are all NO parishes. I don’t know if they should be “re-instituted” since they were never done away with officially. It’s one of those small t deals but I have to say I would be unhappy if the bells were not used. I really do love them.