tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post461402938153751848..comments2024-03-27T11:42:13.364+10:00Comments on JungleWatch: THIS WILL RING YOUR BELLFrenchiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05189311368021711422noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-69810483497961919832015-01-12T19:30:21.591+10:002015-01-12T19:30:21.591+10:00I'm in agreement with most of the sentiments i...I'm in agreement with most of the sentiments in this thread -- yes, the ringing of the bells prior to and during the consecration is a beautiful addition to the liturgy that should be encouraged. I'm a little hesitant to follow Fr. Blockley in his reasoning, however. Essentially, that the omission of the bells (an optional and not obligatory practice as indicated in the GIRM) necessarily leads to "people creating their own liturgical practices," or "forming their own church within the church." Just as ringing bells doesn't indicate that worshippers have an authentic understanding of the reality of the Eucharist, not ringing them doesn't necessarily indicate the reverse. I think this style of pastoral reasoning leads to division just as quickly as a 70's style guitar mass, because it presumes a set of conditions determines one's experience of the liturgy (or, one's faith itself) according to, literally, bells and whistles. So, yes, ring the bells. But let's not equate their use or omission with a determination of one's "authentic faith" or "total obedience". Our faith is built on a much more solid foundation. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-90708851028718158082015-01-12T00:37:21.569+10:002015-01-12T00:37:21.569+10:00Neo priest celebrated the Mass at Cathedral, 7pm. ...Neo priest celebrated the Mass at Cathedral, 7pm. Wasn't Fr. Michael. No bells. At the end after the kissing of the Nino, most people left when done. Others, waited because they knew it is right to wait for the priest to process out. Well he never did. He instead started to "visit" with parishioners while placing the Nino back. Choir stopped singing! All but one altar server waited, as he knew what was proper. I shook my head. Priest waves at the choir and finally makes his way to the sacristy. Clairenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-68153496044488928572015-01-11T23:23:35.774+10:002015-01-11T23:23:35.774+10:00Correct, 6:37 AM. So easy to go down that slipper...Correct, 6:37 AM. So easy to go down that slippery slope when we allow little infractions here and there...then they blow up big on our faces. We ought to remain vigilant against deviations in the guise of innovation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-68483177307469656422015-01-11T20:17:29.385+10:002015-01-11T20:17:29.385+10:00Anonymous (January 11, 2015 at 1:28 AM), I was sur...Anonymous (January 11, 2015 at 1:28 AM), I was surprised to discover during my last trip off-island that one church I attended had no kneelers! There was a cross (without a corpus) behind the altar but I wasn't sure if I was in a Catholic church <i>until I saw the tabernacle light off to the side</i>!<br /><br />I am physically unable to genuflect and/or kneel — while others kneel, I must physically sit and mentally kneel, while offering it up. While at that Mass, since I cannot stand for extended periods of time, I decided I could adopt my "usual" posture for the Consecration — sitting physically while mentally kneeling — while others stood. For me it was a <i>win-win</i> situation, but I was sad that this particular parish had decided that kneeling was unnecessary and had furnished the church to reflect that!<br /><br />Of course since there were no kneelers, there were no bells either.Mary Lou Garcia-Peredanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-19719857931182167982015-01-11T06:37:12.192+10:002015-01-11T06:37:12.192+10:00
The bell should always be used at the elevation o...<br />The bell should always be used at the elevation of the Body and Blood of Our Lord at Holy Mass. When we allow these small things to be removed we contribute to the lack of respect and understanding of the Holy Mass. In a balanced way we must return to the basics of our faith and to the liturgical practices we all grew up in. We want our daily Mass celebrated with devotion . We want our daily rosary, and our devotions, our holy hours. We want the authentic catholic faith and liturgy celebrated with love and devotion. We need a return to the authentic catholic faith and liturgical practices in our church. <br />The bell is a small thing I know but when it is sounded it adds to the reverence of Holy Mass. Take away these small things and then the next thing you will find people creating their own liturgical practices not in conformity with the Liturgical practices of Holy Mother Church. This is how you end up with groups forming their own church within the church. This is not right. We have one church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, governed by the Vicar of Christ on earth, our beloved Holy Father Pope Francis, to whom alone we give our total obedience. Father Matthew Blockley.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-47927936720444710662015-01-11T05:04:43.666+10:002015-01-11T05:04:43.666+10:00Yes!...The true origin dates back when there were ...Yes!...The true origin dates back when there were actually no "Churches" at the time and people would meet in at the center of their Town Square. Yes, VERY crowded. When the Priest would hold up the host, it was chanted "higher, higher", hence, the practice to lift the Host higher during consecration was born. AFTER, when actual Churches and Basilicas were built, the "bell" was used to alert the Faithfuls and avail ourselves to the the main focus of the Consecration, a bell was rung to alert the congregation where our focus should be at this time during the peak of our Mass Celebration, the Consecration.Do Not Be Afraid!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-75788122254816797992015-01-11T02:42:15.156+10:002015-01-11T02:42:15.156+10:00Out of curiosity, I once asked my theology teacher...Out of curiosity, I once asked my theology teacher in college a very similar question -- then, the Latin Mass was still the norm and the ringing of the bells before and right at consecration was the practice -- and his explanation was that the ringing of the bells was initiated for very practical reasons, as Tim also mentions here.<br /><br />This teacher explained that early on, Sunday Mass attendance was very high and churches were so full that the attendance at even large churches were "standing room only" especially at the huge Cathedrals and Basilicas where people seated way at the back of these Cathedrals or large churches didn’t have the full view of the altar because of the distance between the altar and the people. The ringing of the bells was necessary to alert or announce the very important part of the Liturgy -- The Consecration of the Host -- especially to the people seated way in the back. <br /><br />Our Catholic belief and doctrine about the Real Presence of Christ was obviously so recognized and acknowledged by not only the early Christians, but by Catholics all over the world then, that at their Masses, everyone (including all who did not have full view of the Altar) wanted to know and be alerted when it was time to show reverence by their gesture and posture, to give their full attention and to pay their personal homage to the miraculous event happening in front of them: CHRIST’S REAL PRESENCE appearing to them under the appearance of Bread and Wine and coming to them in Holy Communion at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! <br /><br />What an awesome Miracle and Gift we have! We too, should always acknowledge and recognize this event and should be alerted to before the Consecration at Mass by the ringing of the bells! Thank you Mary Lou, for bringing up this interesting and important information; and Tim, for expanding on its significance at Mass.<br />Marilu D. Martineznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652940417109665141.post-55818808530116910942015-01-11T01:28:45.703+10:002015-01-11T01:28:45.703+10:00I for one appreciate the bells. Masses with the ab...I for one appreciate the bells. Masses with the absence of such seem like such an unceremonious way to "greet" the Lord. But having just returned recently from the mainland, I attended a mass where was no kneeling at all. The Jesuit priest did not even raise the host or chalice during the consecration. What gives? If this an acceptable under the rubrics of the mass, I hope it doesn't get adopted here. Whatever happened to "at His name every knee shall bend". It seems contradictory to acknowledge that we are not worthy and yet stand when He enters into our presence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com