Beginning in Lent, Fr. Jon and I will be introducing some small changes in our Masses that we want to explain before they begin. Last week I wrote about the altar servers remaining in their places as they pray the Our Father, instead of coming up and standing by the altar.
This week I want to talk about a change that you may not see, but you will hear! Beginning in Lent, the altar servers are going to be ringing the bells during the consecration at all Sunday Masses. Our current practice has been to ring the bells just during Christmas and Easter, but we are now going to do so for every Sunday Mass and Holy Day. Why the change? Well, there are several reasons. First, the Mass is still the Mass, whether in Easter, Christmas, Advent, Lent, or Ordinary Time. Hence, we are going to ring the bells at all the Sunday Masses instead of just during Christmas and Easter. Second, the bells help us to pray because they focus our attention on Christ becoming present in the Eucharist. For example, when I was serving in different parishes that used the bells more regularly, I can remember hearing from families with younger children that they always appreciated the bells. The parents appreciated the bells because the ringing got their kids’ attention and helped them to focus in the midst of minding their children. All of us can benefit from having the bells remind us of the great gift and mystery that takes place at the Consecration. So when we hear the bells ringing at Mass, may we all be better able to pray as Christ becomes present at the altar.
God bless,
Fr. Gary