Wood Clappers at the Elevation of the Eucharist?

[porthos11]

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.

I don’t know what kind of “authoritative” source you want, as clappers during the Triduum are entrenched in tradition. A quick search shows that they were used long before:

sanctamissa.org/en/sacristy/handbook-for-sacristan/handbook-for-sacristan-50.html

The 1921 “The Office of Holy Week” by Mazellini also indicates the use of clappers.

I think the modern Missal prescribes the bells to be silent. I don’t know what the older Missals commanded in addition to that.

 

[Domnall]

I heard wood clappers during the elevation of the host at a daily Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. It was during lent…for what that information is worth.

 

[Phemie]

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

When I was growing up the bells were replaced with a rattle on Holy Thursday. They were used on Good Friday to tell us to kneel.

 

[martininthefiel]

As an acolyte, I used to sound the clapper in place of the Sanctus bell during Masses in Holy Week. We also sang hymns a cappella from the end of the Passion on Palm Sunday up to the Easter Vigil. I always understood this to be traditional practice, but I don’t know if there is any rubric supporting it.

I frankly liked the custom, because it emphasized the solemn nature of the events we commemorate during Holy Week.

My current parish uses the clapper during this time. There are people who complain.