I would like to know if it is common practice to not ring the bells at the elevation of the Body and Blood. I have never been to a church that did that until today. It was awkward for everyone not to hear the bells. I always thought that the bells signified the moment that the elements are changed. Does this occur with the new Eucharistic prayers? 2 & 3? Thanks for your answers. I like the bells!!!!! Pamela

-- Pamela (Rosylace@aol.com), March 19, 2000

Answers

Hi, Pamela. Let me start by saying, I like the bells, too. :) You must remember that we are in Lent right now. Each church has its own "style", if you will. But for the most part, here is what you will find in church during Lent. Priests wear purple as a reminder that we are in a time of penance. We really don't celebrate any feasts because it is such an important time of year. We have as few celebrations as possible. No dances, parties, weddings, etc. because it is a time to be more serious. During the mass, there are other reminders. No bells, for example. We do not sing the Alleluia before the Gospel or in any other songs. Many churches do not have any singing at all. Alleluia is a word that reminds us of Easter, so during Lent we do not say it at all. We do not sing or say the Glory to God in the highest, either. There are fewer flowers, candles lit and even some take down the cross with Jesus on it. Some will drape a purple cloth over it and the statues. We do not have holy water out. In fact, most only keep a small supply on hand, in case of spiritual emergencies (last rites, for example). The water and oils are blessed on Holy Thursday.

Well, Pamela. I hope this helps. Take heart, for you will hear the bells again. But the important thing is to remember why you don't right now. God Bless.

-- jackiea (jackiea@hotmail.com), March 19, 2000.

[Posted by J. F. Gecik, Sunday night, March 19, 2000]

Thanks, Jackiea, for that terrific summary! You brought up numerous things that had slipped my mind.

I couldn't tell for sure if you were referring to the practices that are followed at your own parish or if you were speaking of the Church in general. But at any rate, there were several things in your list that I felt I should comment on. I don't mean to be argumentative, and I hope that I don't hurt your feelings now.
Hello, Pamela! One of the things that I will mention below will be the main topic of your question -- the bells.

At various points, below, I will refer to, or quote, the contents of a really helpful Vatican document, a 1988 instruction called "The Preparation And Celebration Of The Easter Feasts" [PCEF] from the Congregation for Divine Worship. The full text is at http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWEASTR.HTM

Jackiea wrote: "Each church has its own 'style,' if you will." Yes, individual parish customs are O.K., as long as they are not prohibited by the Church's regulations and do not contradict doctrine.

"Priests wear purple as a reminder that we are in a time of penance." Wearing violet (more bluish) or purple (more reddish) is required on almost every day of Lent. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, "Laetare" (rejoice) Sunday, rose vestments may be worn.

"We really don't celebrate any feasts because it is such an important time of year." There are now four ranks of "special celebrations" in the Church's calendar. The highest form is called the "solemnities." Next comes the "feasts." Then come the "obligatory memorials." Finally come the "optional memorials." Both kinds of memorials are totally omitted during Lent. There are probably just one or two Feasts during most Lents, and they are omitted if they fall on a Sunday or during Holy Week. Then come the biggies -- two solemnities ... the Annunciation (March 24, but moved beyond Easter week if March 24 falls during Holy Week) and St. Joseph (March 19 -- today!). Sunday is so important that it pre-empts Solemnities, which are supposed to be moved back to the preceding Saturday. White vestments are worn on the two Solemnities.

"No dances, parties, weddings ..." Weddings are discouraged, but are not prohibited, except during Holy Week. I was surprised to find out this morning that there had been a wedding in my parish church yesterday. Special circumstances may arise, such as an engaged couple becoming expectant parents, out of wedlock, just before Lent (resulting in anticipated embarrassment or physical hardship, if the wedding is postponed until the Easter season), an engaged couple in military service having to leave the country during Lent, etc..

"During the Mass, there are other reminders. No bells, for example." Technically, the use of bells is permitted during most of Lent. They are used in my parish. However, here is what PCEF says about their use during Holy Week: "[On Holy Thursday] During the singing of the hymn 'Gloria in excelsis' in accordance with local custom, the bells may be rung, and should thereafter remain silent until the 'Gloria in excelsis' of the Easter Vigil, unless the Conference of Bishops' or the local Ordinary, for a suitable reason, has decided otherwise."

[I'll add more about the use of bells in general down below, Pamela.]

"We do not sing the Alleluia before the Gospel or in any other songs ... Alleluia is a word that reminds us of Easter, so during Lent we do not say it at all." Absolutely right. PCEF says, "Likewise, from the beginning of Lent until the Paschal Vigil, 'Alleluia' is to be omitted in all celebrations, even on solemnities and feasts." Just last week, I heard a little girl on a live Catholic call-in radio show ask if she had to obey her teacher, who wanted to practice some music in school, in which "alleluia" was to be sung. It's O.K. outside of church, but the little girl didn't feel good about doing it!

" There are fewer flowers ..." PCEF says, "In Lent the altar should not be decorated with flowers, and musical instruments may be played only to give necessary support to the singing; this is in order that the penitential character of the season be preserved." It is sad that most organists routinely ignore the second part of this, playing preludes and postludes, even after I tell them their obligation. They are required to be accompanists only, during both Lent and Advent.

"... and even some take down the cross with Jesus on it." There must be a cross on or near the altar throughout the entire year. It is not permissible for a sanctuary to be totally lacking a cross during Lent.

"Some will drape a purple cloth over [the crucifix] and the statues." PCEF says, "The practice of covering the crosses and images in the church may be observed if the episcopal conference should so decide. The crosses are to be covered until the end of the celebration of the Lord's passion on Good Friday. Images are to remain covered until the beginning of the Easter Vigil." I have never heard if the U.S. bishops' conference has made a decision on this. I have seen churches with drapes and without them.

"We do not have holy water out." Removal of holy water is definitely not required by the Church. I cannot find a regulation, though, that requires water to be present. I have heard an opinion that it should not be removed during Lent, because it is good to be reminded of the washing away of sins during a penitential season.

Now finally, here is the promised info on the use of bells throughout almost the entire year ...

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), first published in about 1970, which contains hundreds of liturgical directives and is printed in the front of the Sacramentary (the big book on the altar) states the following at #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." The "showing" refers to the elevation of the Sacred Species just after the consecrations.

In 1972, because of uncertainty about what was written in the GIRM, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship stated the following in its periodic publication, "Notitiae," in reply to the question, "Is a bell rung to be at Mass?": "It all depends on the different circumstances of places and people, as is clear from GIRM no. 109. 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."

God bless you both.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 20, 2000.

Dear Pamela, In my parish, the bells are rung at the consecration only if we have alter boys or girls serving mass. Quite frequently we don't. I like the bells ringing too, as it distracts the fussing babies and keeps them quiet long enough to get past the most sacred part of the mass in peace and quiet--we don't have a crying room either. Ellen

-- Ellen K. Hornby (dkh@canada.com), March 22, 2000.

John, Don't worry. You didn't hurt my feelings in the least! I would rather she be informed fully and you helped do that. I'm sure she was grateful for the input. And I have to agree with Ellen on the bells...they seem to distract our little one, too...if only for a few moments! :) God Bless.

-- jackiea (jackiea@hotmail.com), March 22, 2000.

[Posted by J. F. Gecik on Wednesday afternoon, March 22, 2000.]

Folks, that Vatican document I cited states that solemnities that fall on Lenten Sundays after moved to the previous Saturday. When I read that the other day and passed it along to you, I was really puzzled about it because I thought that solemnities were moved to Mondays. Sure enough, the Solemnity of St. Joseph was celebrated on Monday, the 20th. Apparently, the U.S. bishops asked for permission to use Monday instead of Saturday.

Ellen and Jackiea, your mention of the bells distracting the "fussing little ones" makes me ask this next observation. [Now don't get mad at me or think I'm nutty, please {8^D}.]
Many times, I have attended Sunday Masses at which bells are not used. There will be great silence during the first part of the Eucharistic Prayer, but just when the priest reaches the consecrations of the bread and wine, babies begin to start "vocalizing." I have often wondered if their guardian angels are tickling these kiddies to make them celebrate the wondrous event (in place of the bells). [I don't want to think the opposite -- that little imps are pinching them to cause a racket and distract folks!] Is this all just my imagination, or has anyone else noticed it too?

God bless all.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 22, 2000.