Saturday, June 7, 2008

What Are Those Bells We Ring During the Service?

Altar bells, also known as mass bells or sanctus bells, come to the Episcopal Church through Roman Catholocism, where their intent was to draw attention to the occurence of transubstantiation, the transformation of bread and wine into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. This was essential, as Masses conducted in Latin were obviously hard to follow for laity who did not know the language.

Currently, their use is recommended, but not required, in both Roman Catholic and Episcopal and Anglican churches. The decision to use or not use bells is left to the discretion of the individual parish.

In modern usage, Catholic priests ring bells when the priest invokes the Spirit, when the Host is elevated, and again at the elevation of the Chalice. Episcopal worship, on the other hand, uses bells to draw attention to the Words of Institution (the part that retells the First Communion on the night of Jesus's arrest), and at the elevation of the Host and Chalice. Usage may vary, moreover, in accordance with the church calendar, especially during Lent and Holy Week.

In Episcopal/Anglican usage, the bells signify Christ's real presence in the Eucharist, rather than an absolute transubstantiation.

2 comments:

The Crabby Hiker said...

Yay, a blog! do you mind if I tell my mother about your blog? She is a blogger herself, an episcopal, and I think would enjoy your particular POV very much. (this is deb, by the way.) she may also link her blog to yours, which may bring in new readership :-)

yesterday in church, Jeff and I were accosted pre-service and asked by a breathless mary jackson (our church and job friend) if we would bring in the bread and wine and elevate them. (we have no bells.) I had so little noticed this practice in the past that I had no idea what to do, but it turned out it was pretty easy, and I felt a little holy, I confess.

The Crabby Hiker said...

I should add, we're not episcopals at this time; I don't think we'd be allowed to elevate the host in a more liturgically strict church.