The “Ringing of the Bells”

One of the “strategic pillars” of the national Eucharistic Revival is to “contemplate and proclaim the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist through the Truth of our teaching, [the] Beauty of our worship, and [the] Goodness of our accompaniment of persons in poverty and those who are vulnerable.

Although many Catholics have memories of the “ringing of the bells”, the noble practice that highlights the “Beauty of worship” have all but disappeared. Yet it can still serve a purpose as an extra aid to call attention to the moment of the consecration, as a jolt to reawaken wandering minds and a useful catechetical tool for children and adults alike.

In an age when people are ever more in thrall to audiovisual means of communication, and less attentive to abstract discourse, it seems strange that we set about removing those very means that could prove more effective in transmitting a message of faith.