Letter from the Pastor
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November 15, 2020If you are anxious and worried about the future of our country because of the election results, just remember the words of our Lord at the Last Supper when He told His disciples, “Let your hearts be troubled, have faith in God and faith in not Me.” And the second prayer is one of my favorites, a copy of it sits on my desk right and center, it is the famous prayer of St. Theresa of Avila:
Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes. Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
Our Church Bells
Churches used bells since the 5th Century. Before that different methods were used to call the people to prayer. In AD 604, Pope Sabinian approved the use of bells in churches only after the bells were “baptized and anointed.”
By the early Middle Ages, church bells became common throughout Europe. They were first common in northern Europe, reflecting the Irish missionary influence. Eventually when America was established, the churches would ring out the hours of the day, calling people to prayer and worship, announcing significant events, both in celebration, sadness or in warning.
Back in August, our Church bells no longer worked, and we had to purchase a new system, which we did. Two very generous parishioners offered to purchase the system for us. The main donor wishes to remain anonymous, and I will respect the wishes. The second donor wishes the bells to be rung in honor of her family and a plaque will be placed on the wall of the bell tower.
The original bell from the original Church of St. Margaret can still be seen in front of the Church. Over time, the bronze bell was replaced with an electronic bell system. The system just purchased is state of the art electronics, new and larger speakers, with many options of bell selection and hymns to be played. The cost of the system was $12,000. The system is guaranteed for 10 years. On November 1st, the new bell system rang out for the first time. It rings at 8AM, noon and 6:00 PM for the Angelus Prayer, and then it rings every hour from 8AM-8PM and at 8:02 PM, the Hymn “Day is Done” is played on the carillon. The bells are tolled at funerals and a festive peal of the bells after great celebrations. The call to worship is 15 minutes before each Sunday Mass. It also has other capabilities to play hymns at Christmas, Easter, even St. Patrick’s Day!
There is a solemn blessing or consecration of the Church bell, it is known as the “baptism of the bell.” The tradition is thought to date to the 8th century but some believe it started earlier. The solemn ceremony consisted of the washing the bell with blessed water, anointing with the Oil of the Sick seven times on the outside and four times on the inside of the bell asking “whoever assembles at its sound may be free from all temptations of the enemy, and ever follow the teaching of the Catholic faith…” after the anointing the bell receives a name. In most churches now the “baptized” bronze bells are replaced by computer chips
So when you hear once again that ringing in your ear, you are hearing a tradition dating back to the 5th century with 21st Century technology.
I would like to have a parish celebration in the blessing of the Bell System, perhaps in the spring when we can gather outside. I will keep you informed.
