Wood Clappers at the Elevation of the Eucharist?

[Splagchnizomai]

While watching This Side Of Eden on EWTN, I thought I heard what sounded like wood clappers, instead of bells, during the elevation of the Eucharist.

Does anyone have any idea what it was? Is this a common feature of Benedictine liturgies?

 

[Corki]

I know some parishes replace the bells with clappers during Lent. Could that be it?

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I know some parishes replace the bells with clappers during Lent. Could that be it?

It could be. The documentary is during Holy Week, but this particular scene could have been filmed during Lent?

 

[malphono]

I didn’t hear any clappers in that short video, but I did notice that what liturgy they showed was Holy Week, including the Mandatum of Holy Thursday. AFAIK, (at least in the Usus Antiquior, but I think this hold true in the Novus Ordo as well), clappers are only used from after the Gloria of Holy Thursday when the bells go silent, until the Easter Vigil, when the bells return. The only Mass where clappers would be used at the elevation would be exactly that of Holy Thursday.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I didn’t hear any clappers in that short video, but I did notice that what liturgy they showed was Holy Week, including the Mandatum of Holy Thursday. AFAIK, (at least in the Usus Antiquior, but I think this hold true in the Novus Ordo as well), clappers are only used from after the Gloria of Holy Thursday when the bells go silent, until the Easter Vigil, when the bells return. The only Mass where clappers would be used at the elevation would be exactly that of Holy Thursday.

The clappers are elsewhere in the doc – and definitely at the elevation. I’ll be sure to find the Holy Thursday part of it, which will help while fast forwarding to it! Thanks.

My parish doesn’t use bells or clappers, and I’ve only heard bells in other parishes, so this is all new to me. It was quite wonderful!

 

[KCT]

The parish where I work had them on Holy Thursday. I’ve never seen/ heard them before.

 

[LoyalViews]

I was watching that very documentary as well yesterday!

The clappers, I believe, are used during Lent.

Also, they could just a tradition that the Westminster Abbey has?

 

[roadsend]

I didn’t hear any clappers in that short video, but I did notice that what liturgy they showed was Holy Week, including the Mandatum of Holy Thursday. AFAIK, (at least in the Usus Antiquior, but I think this hold true in the Novus Ordo as well), clappers are only used from after the Gloria of Holy Thursday when the bells go silent, until the Easter Vigil, when the bells return. The only Mass where clappers would be used at the elevation would be exactly that of Holy Thursday.

Yup

 

[Oneofthewomen]

It could be a cultural thing, also.

I used to belong to a parish that was also home to the Vietnamese Catholic Community. The English community had not used bells for many years. The Vietnamese Community uses a wooden clapper at all of their Masses.
When we have joint Masses, it is one of the elements we use from the Vietnamese culture.

 

[roadsend]

It could be a cultural thing, also.

I used to belong to a parish that was also home to the Vietnamese Catholic Community. The English community had not used bells for many years. The Vietnamese Community uses a wooden clapper at all of their Masses.
When we have joint Masses, it is one of the elements we use from the Vietnamese culture.

I remember using the clappers at Holy Thursday Mass as an altar boy in the '50s.
The Masses I attended in Viet Nam in 1968-69 used bells. Can’t say that this was a universal Vietnamese practice but bells were used at the churches I attended there.

 

[LilyM]

The parish where I work had them on Holy Thursday. I’ve never seen/ heard them before.

I’ve heard them once or twice on Holy Thursday, but then I’ve only been able to attend Holy Thursday Mass once or twice.

 

[Splagchnizomai]

I haven’t had a chance to watch the doc again, but I really appreciate everyone chiming in! This is fascinating.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

I didn’t hear any clappers in that short video, but I did notice that what liturgy they showed was Holy Week, including the Mandatum of Holy Thursday. AFAIK, (at least in the Usus Antiquior, but I think this hold true in the Novus Ordo as well), clappers are only used from after the Gloria of Holy Thursday when the bells go silent, until the Easter Vigil, when the bells return. The only Mass where clappers would be used at the elevation would be exactly that of Holy Thursday.

We had the clappers at Holy Thursday Mass. I had never heard them before, so the sound was a bit startling!

 

[Splagchnizomai]

We had the clappers at Holy Thursday Mass. I had never heard them before, so the sound was a bit startling!

That’s the same thing I felt when I heard it on the doc – startled! I thought the noise was coming from outside my house. A big storm or something!

 

[porthos11]

The bells are silent after the Gloria on Holy Thursday, after which, clappers are used until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. That’s probably what you heard.

 

[Brendan]

The bells are silent after the Gloria on Holy Thursday, after which, clappers are used until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. That’s probably what you heard.

Ah, ya beat me to it.

As porthos said, traditionally, there are no Church bells rung from the Gloria to Gloria. In their place, wooden clappers are used at times when bells might be rung during the liturgy.

Our parish uses them during the Consecration on Holy Thursday, and when the Blessed Sacrament is being processed out on Holy Thursday, and processed in during the Communion service on Good Friday.

The wooden clappers have the more somber character than the joyous note of bells.

 

[Jegudiel]

The bells are silent after the Gloria on Holy Thursday, after which, clappers are used until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. That’s probably what you heard.

Do you happen to know of an authoritative reference for this? I would like to read up on this. I know in some locations it is customary to very solemnly (not joyfully) toll the bells at 3:00 on Good Friday.

 

[Jegudiel]

Ah, ya beat me to it.

As porthos said, traditionally, there are no Church bells rung from the Gloria to Gloria. In their place, wooden clappers are used at times when bells might be rung during the liturgy.

Our parish uses them during the Consecration on Holy Thursday, and when the Blessed Sacrament is being processed out on Holy Thursday, and processed in during the Communion service on Good Friday.

The wooden clappers have the more somber character than the joyous note of bells.

Not all bell ringing is joyous. With the right bell(s) and they right technique one can ring a pattern that will make people want to cry rather than rejoice. Clappers to me are very distracting, particularly during the liturgy.

 

[marytk]

When I was in Jerusalem (years ago) a few of us woke up early to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre right when it opened. We had forgotten it was Sunday so it was busier than other days. A man motioned us aside and said “the Aremenians are coming the Armeniens are coming” Then a large group of men in white came. for the Sunday service. Some were pounding wooden sticks. We were told that when the Turks occupied Jerusalem they had banned the ringing of bells, So these people used wood instead to praise God. (I know they were not Catholic but I loved the idea of finding a way to praise God)

 

[porthos11]

Not all bell ringing is joyous. With the right bell(s) and they right technique one can ring a pattern that will make people want to cry rather than rejoice. Clappers to me are very distracting, particularly during the liturgy.

I think they’re intentionally meant to give out a jarring and annoying sound.

Further, IIRC, clappers were at one time prescribed for that period of the year, and only that period. The hermeneutic of continuity advocated by the Holy Father would suggest that their use be retained to the present day.