I shall do a thing in Israel and his ears shall Tingle.
He who has EARS to HEAR let him HEAR.

The vestments for the high priest required bells to be worn when entering the Sanctuary. (Holy of Holy’s) I can rightly say that most Catholics recognize the importance of bells in our Church. But what will come to a surprise to most is with “The bell, book and candle.” the bell got left out of the new Christian faith, until the fifth century, when Saint Paulinus, the Bishop of Nola, introduced them as a means to summon monks to worship. In the seventh century Pope Sabinianus approved the use of bells to call the faithful to the Mass. The Venerable Bede, an English saint of the eighth century, is credited with the introduction of bell ringing at Requiem Masses. By the ninth century the use of bells had spread to even the small parish churches of the western Roman Empire.

My only explanation for this delay in the bells would be that the early Church held their service in secret and wanted to keep them as quite as possible.

It wasn’t until the thirteenth century that outdoor tower bells began to be rung as “Sanctus bells” during the Mass. It is interesting to note that tower bells are still used today as Sanctus bells at the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican and a great many other historic churches and cathedrals. A close look at many of these older structures will often reveal a series of sighting holes (and sometimes mirrors) that were once used by bell-ringers to monitor the celebration of the Mass from bell-lofts so that the bells could be rung at the proper time. Many churches, particularly in England, later placed small Sanctus bells atop the rood screen (between the chancel and the nave of the church) as a refinement of using large, outdoor tower bells.

These tower bells were rung at the consecration and presentation of the Eucharist. First and foremost, the Sanctus bells were rung during the Mass to create a joyful noise (often in conjunction with select musical instruments such as the lyre) to the Lord as described in Psalm 98:4:

Ringing the bells also gave notice to those unable to attend the Mass (the sick, slaves, outside guards, etc.) that something divine and miraculous was taking place inside of the church building. The voice of the bell would allow people to stop what they were doing to offer an act of adoration to God. Additionally, the bells helped to focus the attention of the faithful inside the church on the miracle that was taking place on the altar of sacrifice.

Nearly 350 years after the introduction of the Sanctus bells rung during the Liturgy, the Council of Trent (1545-1563) formally mandated their use during the celebration of the Mass. Thus for the first time the use of the bells became a required part of the official rubrics of the Mass. Ringing the bells is still required for the “Tridentine” Mass; though the practice was made optional when the post-Conciliar Missal was promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1969.???

Also of interest, the term, “Bell, book, and candle,”  in Roman Catholicism, a ceremony formerly used in pronouncing the “major excommunication” or “anathema” (see excommunication). Its origins are not clear, but it dates back certainly to the late 9th century. The bell represented the public character of the act, the book the authority of the words spoken by the presiding bishop. The candle was believed to symbolize the possibility that the ban might be lifted by the repentance and amendment of its victim. The ceremony was performed in some conspicuous place, and, upon its termination, letters were written to bishops of other sees to report the fact. When the assemblage had been convoked, a bishop appeared with 12 priests, and all 13 held lighted candles. The bishop, wearing violet vestments, then recited the formula, ending thus: “We separate him, together with his accomplices and abettors, from the precious body and blood of the Lord and from the society of all Christians; we exclude him from our holy mother the church in heaven and on earth; we declare him excommunicate and anathema; we judge him damned, with the devil and his angels and all the reprobate, to eternal fire until he shall recover himself from the toils of the devil and return to amendment and to penitence.” Those present answered, “So be it!” Then the bishop and the 12 priests extinguished their candles by dashing them to the ground, and (as a general rule) the ceremony then ended.

We know when our Lord died on the cross he entered the Holy of Holy’s in place of the High Priest in His establishment of the UN-bloody Sacrifice, so who are we to deny the focus of attention that God demanded from the beginning by not ringing in the bells for all eternity.

Grace be with you, In Christ, Joseph

2-5-16 St. Agatha VM One of two Sicilian Saints in the canon of the Mass

Catholic Encyclopedia  Catholic dictionary and the Britannica encyclopedia.
(1) Adoremus, Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy
Online Edition – March 2005
Vol. XI, No. 1   (Paul VI)
Sanctus Bells,Their History and Use in the Catholic Church
by Matthew D. Herrera