April 22, 2012
Third Sunday of Easter
We rang bells during the Gloria of the Mass on Holy Thursday and at the Easter Vigil. I know some want to bring back the bells. But I ask two questions: Why and When? Older folks remember the ringing of bells during the Latin Mass. The bells would signal the congregation that a special part of the Mass was occurring: offertory, consecration and Holy Communion. People in the pew were often praying the rosary or reading their St. Joseph Missal distracted from the Sacred ritual. Today, the Mass or Eucharist is in the vernacular. With the Mass in English, we should be more attentive and engaged in the liturgy. When a person asks: "Can we bring back the bells?", I inquire: "When will we ring them?" The liturgy of the Word is an essential part of Mass. Catholics years ago could skip this part and still fulfill their obligation. In our Gospel according to Luke, Jesus appears and explains the meaning of Sacred Scripture. St. Luke, the evangelist, stresses that our hearts should be aglow when we reflect on the Word of God and that we will come to recognize Jesus in the "breaking of the bread." There is not a particular moment that we can single out with the ringing of bells. Liturgy of Word and Eucharist is the gathering place of the assembly where we experience the presence of the Risen Lord and where we are nourished and commissioned. We are witnesses of this mystery. If there is a place to ring a bell it is at the end of Mass when we are leaving to make us more aware of the task Jesus entrusts to us: "preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins."
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2nd Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday
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4th Sunday of Easter
