THE BELL

I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ.  (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God  (2 Cor. 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good  (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph.. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3) I have been justified (Rom5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9;  2 Cor. 6:1) I am God's workmanship (Eph 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil1:5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14).I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) 
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

The sound of a bell can be joyous, wistful, mournful or even frightening. Christmas bells herald the coming of our Saviour. Bells ring to honor the dead. Church bells once tolled to warn townsfolk of an enemy attack. I liken bells to chimes and the wistful whistle of a traveling train... sounds I adore... finding them comforting and soul-touching.

 As a Catholic there is great meaning in bells. The Angelus, a devotion in memory of the Incarnation, is accompanied by the ringing of church bells at 6 am, noon, & 6 pm. The Angelus bell is a call to prayer and to spread good-will to everyone on Earth. When the Angelus bell peals, work stops and our hearts open to the mystery of The Word Made Flesh. In gratitude we bow our heads and pray.

The Angelus by Jean Francois Millet

There is no sound more beautiful than the Sanctus Bells.  At Mass, just before the Consecration when multitudes of angels are on the Altar, a server rings a small bell three times indicating to worshipers to join with the angels in praising God with the words, "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord..." The first time the bells are rung, the priest prays to the Holy Spirit to change the gifts of bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord. The second time is when he raises and presents the Body of Christ to the worshipers and finally when the same is done to the Precious Blood of Jesus in the chalice. The ringing of bells during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has a profound effect...there is no denying that when they are heard, all are aware that something supernatural is taking place. 

Did you know the Sanctus Bells are baptized? This special blessing consists of: washing the bells with holy water, then anointing the exterior with the oil of the sick and the interior with chrism. A censer of burning incense is placed under each bell and prayers are recited along with a Sacred Scripture reading.  The beautiful Blessing below is prayed over the bell.

We praise you, Lord, Father all-holy. To a world wounded and divided by sin you sent your only Son. He gave His life for His sheep, to gather them into one fold and to guide and feed them as their One Shepherd.

May Your people hasten to Your church when they hear the call of this bell.

May they persevere in the teaching of the apostles, in steadfast fellowship, in unceasing prayer, and in the breaking of the bread. May they remain ever one in mind and heart to the glory of Your name.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The bells are then sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

To curse by bell, book & candle is a solemn form of excommunication used in the Catholic Church that entails: the bell being tolled, specific readings from the  Book of Offices, and three candles being extinguished with a certain ceremony.

Bells are common in other religious denominations. Methodists are known for their lovely "bell choir". Is there a more fitting way to "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praise"?

Psalm 98:4.

Did You Know? The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Historically bells are associated with the concept of peace and freedom (the Liberty Bell). The study of bells is called, campanology. The 17th century phrase, Saved By The Bell, came about because of the fear of premature burial. To avoid this, a string attached to a bell could be rung by the interred person should he revive after burial. It is, also, a boxing term for a last minute intervention.

A parishioner friend of mine is so enamored with bells that he has written several books on the subject. see amazon A.A. Jr. Trinidad's Glass Bells 

My Fostoria Bell

Even Hollywood gives a nod to the bell: "The Bells of St. Mary", the faith-based movie, "Ring The Bell", "Bell, Book & Candle" (James Stewart & Kim Novak). Bells were significant in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and who could forget that famous line from "It's A Wonderful Life"..."Every time a bell rings an angel get his wings." Bells are, well, Bella! 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! - See more at: http://www.adoremus.org/0305SantusBells.html#sthash.5jNdNSLw.dpuf