Comments on: etc. by sarah: Sanctus Bells http://scobp.org/2010/03/08/etc-by-sarah-sanctus-bells/ "A Family of Families" Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:06:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: Stephanie http://scobp.org/2010/03/08/etc-by-sarah-sanctus-bells/comment-page-1/#comment-488 Stephanie Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:56:45 +0000 http://scobp.org/?p=407#comment-488 I always loved the bells too. They still ring them at the church I grew up in. When I was a little girl, my mother told me the angels in heaven rang the bells. Even though I later learned they were rung by a human, I always considered them to be rung by angels, even when I had the honor of ringing the bells myself when I became an alter server. It was always my favorite part of Mass. I always loved the bells too. They still ring them at the church I grew up in. When I was a little girl, my mother told me the angels in heaven rang the bells. Even though I later learned they were rung by a human, I always considered them to be rung by angels, even when I had the honor of ringing the bells myself when I became an alter server. It was always my favorite part of Mass.

]]> By: Jerry Reiner http://scobp.org/2010/03/08/etc-by-sarah-sanctus-bells/comment-page-1/#comment-483 Jerry Reiner Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:40:33 +0000 http://scobp.org/?p=407#comment-483 Affection for the altar (sanctus bells) fascinates me. I have known more than a few older Catholics who lament the loss of "the bells". Frankly, I don't understand what all the fuss is about. A lot of the old customs were left behind in the aggiornameto. If memory serves, these bells were not rung during Holy Week (perhaps even during the entire season of Lent). Instead a wooden clapper was used. And these signals were really used to wake the congregation up either from sleep or personal devotions. Folks were really disengaged from the Liturgy. We also left behind things like black vestments at funerals, the somber elements of the rite of Baptism, Extreme Unction (the Last Anointing), no women in the sanctuary, no altar girls, patens, and speaking about a priests consecrated fingers. But it wasn't all things lost but things rediscovered. Liturgy became a celebration, music became an important part of that celebration and singing part of our public worship. Girls and women were invited to participate as ministers to the People of God. The Bible ceased to be a Protestant book. So many good and wonderful things happened. As someone old enough to actually remember the old ways but who grew to maturity in the new, I don't miss the altar (sanctus) bells. For me they represent a time to which I'd rather not return. The Liturgy has two parts...the Word and the Eucharist... but they are intrinsically connected. It would be bad practice to come into Liturgy 15 or 20 minutes late simply to hear the bells and see the consecration. If we look and feel carefully with our hearts, we will not simply be spectators seeing angels gathered around the altar. During the Liturgy, we are the People of God united with the entire Communion of Saints in a timeless celebration of God's Love. We join with the saints and angels in that one unending chorus...holy holy holy Lord...the Sanctus. Who needs bells. Affection for the altar (sanctus bells) fascinates me. I have known more than a few older Catholics who lament the loss of “the bells”. Frankly, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. A lot of the old customs were left behind in the aggiornameto.

If memory serves, these bells were not rung during Holy Week (perhaps even during the entire season of Lent). Instead a wooden clapper was used. And these signals were really used to wake the congregation up either from sleep or personal devotions. Folks were really disengaged from the Liturgy.

We also left behind things like black vestments at funerals, the somber elements of the rite of Baptism, Extreme Unction (the Last Anointing), no women in the sanctuary, no altar girls, patens, and speaking about a priests consecrated fingers.

But it wasn’t all things lost but things rediscovered. Liturgy became a celebration, music became an important part of that celebration and singing part of our public worship. Girls and women were invited to participate as ministers to the People of God. The Bible ceased to be a Protestant book. So many good and wonderful things happened.

As someone old enough to actually remember the old ways but who grew to maturity in the new, I don’t miss the altar (sanctus) bells. For me they represent a time to which I’d rather not return.

The Liturgy has two parts…the Word and the Eucharist… but they are intrinsically connected. It would be bad practice to come into Liturgy 15 or 20 minutes late simply to hear the bells and see the consecration.

If we look and feel carefully with our hearts, we will not simply be spectators seeing angels gathered around the altar. During the Liturgy, we are the People of God united with the entire Communion of Saints in a timeless celebration of God’s Love. We join with the saints and angels in that one unending chorus…holy holy holy Lord…the Sanctus.

Who needs bells.

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