BLESSING OF A BELL

BLESSING OF A BELL

1142. There is an ancient custom of calling the Christian people to the liturgical assembly and
to inform him of the main events of the local community through some sign or
sound. Such is the specific mission of bells. Indeed, the ringing of the bell is,
some way, the expression of the feelings of the people of God, when this people rejoices or
cry, give thanks or plead, gather and reveal the mystery of their unity in Christ.

1143. Due to the close relationship that bells have with the life of the Christian community,
rooted the custom -that has prevailed and has been desired to be preserved- of blessing them before
put them in the bell tower

It is advisable to hang or place the bell that is to be blessed in the designated location of
in advance, so that it can comfortably, if the case arises, turn around it and
make it sound.

1145. Depending on the circumstances of the time and place, the bell is blessed on a festive day,
outside the church or also within it, according to the rite described in numbers 1147-1161. If one
it is deemed appropriate to bless her during the Mass, the blessing takes place after the homily, at
content of what is stated in number 1162.

1146. This rite can be used by the presbyter, who, respecting its structure and elements
mainly consists of, can adapt each of its parts so that the celebration fits
better to the circumstances of the place and the people. If, as is advisable, the Bishop presides, He
they introduce the appropriate adjustments.

RITE OF BLESSING

INITIAL RITES

1147. Once the community is gathered, a suitable song is sung at the appropriate time, after which the
celebrant says:

In the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Everyone makes the sign of the cross and responds:

Amen.

1148. Then the celebrant greets those present, saying:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, who calls us to one Church, and the
the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Or other suitable words, preferably taken from the sacred Scripture.

And with your spirit.

in another appropriate way.

1149. Then the celebrant briefly exhorts the faithful to dispose their spirit for the celebration.
and explain the meaning of the rite; it can be born with these words or others similar:

This is for us a day of great joy, because this church from today has a new
bell, an event that gives us the opportunity to bless God with this celebration. The bells
they are in a certain way related to the life of the people of God: their touch, indeed, points us out
the moments of the prayer, gathers the people for liturgical celebrations, warns the faithful
when an important event occurs that is a reason for joy or sadness for the part of
the Church (for this population) or for any of the faithful. Let us attend, then, with devotion to
these rites, so that every time we hear the sound of the bell we remember that we are part of
everyone, one family, and, obedient to his voice, let us all gather, as a visible sign of our
uniting in Christ.

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

1150. Then the reader, one of those present or the celebrant himself, reads a text from the sacred
Writing, selected from those proposed below:

Mark 16:14-16, 20: Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all creation

Listen now, brothers, to the words of the holy Gospel according to Saint Mark.

Lastly, Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were at the table, and he reproached them for their
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him resurrected and told them
He said, 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.'
will be saved; whoever resists believing will be condemned." They went to proclaim the Gospel everywhere.
parts, and the Lord was working with them and confirming the word with the signs that accompanied it.

Word of the Lord.

1151. They can also be read: Nm 10:1-8, 10; 1Chr 15:11-12, 25-28; 16:1-2; Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Acts
2, 36-39. 41-42; Mt 3, I-11; Mc l, 1-8.

1152. Depending on the circumstances, a responsorial psalm or another song may be said or sung.
adequate.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 28 (29), 1-2. 3 and 5. 7-9. 10-11 (R.: 4)

The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is magnificent.
Children of God, shout to the Lord, shout the glory and the power of the Lord, shout the glory of
name of the Lord, bow before the Lord in the sacred courtyard. R.

The voice of the Lord over the waters, the God of glory has thundered, the Lord over the waters
Torrential. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

The voice of the Lord sends out flames of fire, the voice of the Lord shakes the desert, the Lord shakes the ...
Cadés desert. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks, the Lord strips the forests. In His temple
a unanimous shout: " Glory!" R.

The Lord sits above the flood, the Lord sits as an eternal king. The Lord gives strength to
His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace. R.

1153 Or alternatively:

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness!

1154. The celebrant, depending on the circumstances, briefly exhorts those present, explaining to them the
readings, so that they perceive the meaning of the celebration and the purpose of the bell.

PRAYERS

1155. Follow according to the circumstances, the common prayer. Among the invocations that are here
they propose, the celebrant can select those that seem most appropriate or add others
directly related to the circumstances of the present or the moment.

United in a single voice, let us present our petitions to God the Father, who wants to unite in His
Church to all peoples, and let us tell them:

R. Gather all nations in your Church.

Lord and our God, who always calls us to unity, so that encouraged by the same
Spirit, let's walk the only path of salvation. R.

Lord and our God, who teaches us to share in the sorrows and joys of our brothers,
so that our charity may be more genuine. R.

Lord and our God, who today fills our assembly with spiritual joy, so that it may teach the
brothers the message of salvation. R.

Follow the blessing prayer, as indicated later.

1156. When the prayers are not said, before the blessing prayer, the celebrant, with these
words or other similar ones, invites everyone to pray, imploring divine help:

With our prayer, let us now strengthen the praises and petitions directed to the Father, who has
gathered in this place.
And, depending on the circumstances, everyone prays silently for a while.

ORACLE OF BLESSING

1157. The celebrant, with hands extended, says the blessing prayer:

We bless you, Lord, Holy Father, because you sent your Son into the world, so that, with the outpouring of
his blood would gather the men that sin had scattered and unite them all as one
pasture, so that he, as the sole shepherd, could guide and instruct them.

We ask you now, Lord, that when they hear the invitation of the bell, your faithful may come to the church with
readiness and joy, and that, remaining steadfast in the teaching of the apostles, in the
fraternal harmony, in the breaking of bread and in prayer, have a same mind and the same
to feel, for the praise of your glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

R. Amen

1158. Or well

Oh God, whose voice, already in the origins of the world, resonated in the ears of man, inviting him to the
participation in divine life, teaching him ineffable and healthy things; oh God, who ordered to
Moses, your servant, who will use silver trumpets to gather the people; oh God, that
Allow your Church to use bronze bells that invite your people to prayer, bless +
this new campaign and make all your children, upon hearing his voice, raise their hearts to you and,
sharing the joys and sorrows of brothers, go quickly to the church, where
feel Christ present, listen to your word and expose your desires. Through Jesus Christ, our
Mister.

R. Amen.

1159. After the blessing prayer, the celebrant sprinkles the bell according to the circumstances.
with holy water puts incense and the incense, while the antiphon is sung:

Sing to the Lord and bless His Name. Hallelujah.

With Psalm 149, or another suitable song.

Psalm 149:1-5

Sing to the Lord a new song, let His praise be heard in the assembly of the faithful; let them rejoice
Israel for its Creator, the children of Zion for their King. R.

Praise His Name with dances, sing to Him with drums and lyres; for the Lord loves His people and
he adorns the humble with victory. R.

Let the faithful celebrate His glory and sing joyfully in rows. R.
CONCLUSION OF THE RITE

1160. The celebrant blesses the people, with hands outstretched over the faithful, saying:

God, who gathers a single Church from many nations, bless you with His mercy.
You have promptly come for the blessing of this new bell.

R. Amen.

May He grant you mercy that, when summoned in the church by the solemn sound of this
bell, listen carefully to his word.

R. Amen.

And thus, overcoming all division among brothers, and loving one another sincerely, may you celebrate
the sacred mysteries are intertwined.

R. Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son + and Holy Spirit, descend upon you.

R. Amen.

1161. If deemed appropriate, the celebrant and the faithful ring the blessed bell as a sign
of joy. It is advisable to conclude the rite with an appropriate song.

1162. If the blessing of the bell is done during the Mass (cf... supra no. 1145), it must be taken into account.
take the following into account:

the Mass of the day is said;

The readings, except on solemnities, feasts, and Sundays, can be taken from the Mass of
day or those proposed in numbers 1150-1153;

the blessing of the bell is done after the homily, following the rite described in the
numbers 1155-1158.