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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Bells at church Burnadette Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Question:

I know this sounds like a silly question, but here it is. We have a pastor who has just been here a few years and he has changed the way the servrers ring the bells at consecration. We have such beautiful bells that resonate so nicely, but for some reason, this priest has instructed the servers to ring the bells with a cha-ching, cha-ching style, like you might ring a cow bell. It is very distracting and in passing I asked him why the change in the bell ringing style. He told me that it is against liturgical law to ring them in any other way than the cha-ching cha-ching style. It really surprised me because in all honesty, I think that bells are somewhat optional these days aren't they? I looked in the GIRM and could find nothing - - not one word about the proper way to ring the bells. So my question, I guess, is: Is there a particular way the bells are suppose to be rung? It is such a trivial matter, I am almost embarrassed to ask, but he has really peaked my curiosity now and I thought you would probably know the answer. Thank you for your time and patience with my trivial curiosity.

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Burnadette,

All the instructions say at this point is that a bell may be rung:  so you are right, it is not specified what "style" in which they are to be rung.

I don't know why your priest would be thinking this, except maybe at some point he was taught to ring them that way and so he assumed that was what the law said.

 

Mr. Slavek
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