👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾Why is the #Bell #Rung in the #Church?
Beloved brethren, children of the Light and inheritors of the apostolic faith, grace and peace be multiplied unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, let us ascend with spiritual minds to consider the sacred purpose and profound symbolism of the bell that voice of metal which resounds in our holy temples and calls both priest and people to divine contemplation.
Let not your ears be dulled by familiarity, nor your hearts forgetful of the wisdom of the fathers. For the ringing of the bell is no mere tradition nor an ornament of ritual, but it is a voice a trumpet of the Church which, like the prophets of old, prepares the hearts of the faithful to meet their God.
The Bell: Its Origin and Composition
The origin of the bell is not modern. The fathers teach that its beginnings reach back to the days of the righteous Noah. In those ancient days, a sound was needed to summon the chosen ones of God the priests to their service. From that need was born the bell, a herald of duty, a caller to righteousness.
The bell may be made of silver, bronze, iron, or any material that can proclaim a clear sound. Its house differs according to the architecture of the church. In round churches, it stands separate, but in cross-shaped churches, it is attached to the temple, as if the voice of the bell proceeds directly from the heart of the sanctuary.
I. The Wedding Bell – A Call to Awakening
The Wedding Bell is rung before the doors of the church are opened. It calls the priests and the faithful to prepare their hearts for the holy Mysteries.
It is called the “Wedding Bell” because it reflects the mission of the prophets, who, like bridal friends, prepared the people for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. These prophets, turning the people from idols to the living God, were the first voices that stirred Israel to expectation.
So also does this bell stir us from the slumber of sin. Like a trumpet, it awakens our souls, saying: “Come, let us go up to the house of the Lord!” It is the voice of Isaiah, the echo of Malachi, the weeping of Jeremiah all calling us to return to the covenant.
II. The Entrance Bell of the Liturgy A Herald of Sacrifice
After the priests have honored the sacrifice in Bethlehem (the Holy Table), they return to the temple, and at this sacred moment, the Entrance Bell is rung. The faithful, moved by reverence, bow their heads and hearts.
This bell rings five times, a mystery signifying the five pillars of the Church. But it also reflects the heavenly declaration of Saint Gabriel to the Virgin:
“Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:26)
The bell, like the voice of the Archangel, announces to us that Christ is present in our midst, that the Holy One has come to dwell in Bethlehem, the House of Bread.
It also echoes the cry of Saint John the Baptist, who, beholding the Lamb, cried:
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Thus, this bell is not merely a signalit is a sermon in sound, proclaiming the presence of Christ and calling the people to offer Him the sacrifice of praise.
III. The Gospel Bell – A Cry of the Apostolic Voice
After the Gospel is read and the deacon proclaims, “Hail, O Christ!”, the Gospel Bell rings three times.
Three times for the mystery of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Three times for the threefold proclamation of salvation: by the voice of the prophets, the cry of John the Baptist, and the preaching of the apostles.
This bell symbolizes the ministry of Saint John, the apostles, and the beginning of mankind’s salvation. Before the Lord Himself taught, Saint John prepared the way, preaching repentance that hearts might be made ready for the Gospel. This bell continues that same ministry, stirring souls to hear the Word of God with trembling and joy.
Continues 👇🏾