Bells have been known throughout history as Vox Deo (the voice of God). Bells are first mentioned in the Bible during a description of the high priest’s robe, worn when he entered the “Holy of Holies” (Exodus 28:31-35).
The use of bells in the Church can be traced to the fifth century. The tradition of ringing church bells dates back to AD 400 when an Italian bishop, Saint Paulinus of Nola (354 – 431), first introduced bells in association with a church service. In AD 604, Pope Sabinianus (530 – 606), officially introduced the custom of ringing church bells during the celebration of the Eucharist and to announce times of daily prayer called the canonical hours. By the early Middle Ages, church bells had become common in northern Europe.
“The original purpose for the use of bells at Mass was to alert the sacristan to the part of the celebration of the Mass the priest was at; the sacristan, in turn, was waiting at the campanile [bell tower] to alert those who could not come to Mass, but who were praying at the same hour. The bell also served as a hurry call for field workers who could not attend Mass but who knew at the call of the bell that they could hurry to the door of the church to receive the Blessed Sacrament and quickly return to their chores. Many people think that the use of bells during Mass have been abolished. This s simply not so. Their use has been optional for some time, but even papal ceremonies still make use of them.”[1]
The Church has been blessing church bells (incorrectly called a Baptism), since the sixth century. Amid beautiful prayers, the bells are washed with holy water, that they may become a pure agency in the worship of God. They are anointed with oil for the sick in the form of a cross, then seven times outwardly with the same oil, and seven times inwardly with holy chrism. The seven-fold blessing with oil and chrism signify the fountains of grace flowing through the seven sacraments to which the bells call us. Thymia, incense and myrrh are burned under the bell. This fumigation symbolizes the fragrance of prayer to which the bells call us. The gospel of Mary and Martha is read, because the bells call us to the one thing necessary: the hearing of God’s word. A name is given to the consecrated bell, because of their respective names the bells are distinguished from one another and are placed under the protection of a patron saint.
Prayer for the Blessing of a Church Bell
“God, who decreed through blessed Moses, your servant and lawgiver, that silver trumpets should be made and be sounded at the time of sacrifice, in order to remind the people by their clear tones to prepare for your worship and to assemble for its celebration. Grant, we pray, that this bell, destined for your holy Church, may be hallowed by the Holy Spirit through our lowly ministry, so that when it is tolled and rung the faithful may be invited to the house of God and to the everlasting recompense. Let the people’s faith and piety wax stronger whenever they hear its melodious peals. At its sound let all evil spirits be driven afar; let thunder and lightning, hail and storm be banished; let the power of your hand put down the evil powers of the air, causing them to tremble at the sound of this bell, and to flee at the sight of the holy cross engraved thereon. May our Lord Himself grant this, who overcame death on the gibbet of the cross, and who now reigns in the glory of God the Father, in the unity of the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.”[2]
[1] Rituale Romanum, (Chicago: Bruce Publishing Company, 1964), p, 322,#27.
[2] Noonan, James-Charles, Jr., The Church Visible: The Ceremonial life and Protocol of the Roman Catholic Church, (New York, NY: Viking Books, USA, 1996), p. 398.