Easter vigil

a83192 · #1 Feb 24, '12, 5:46 pm

are the ringing of the bells at the gloria of the Easter Vigil essential to the rite? How many bells should be ringing?

CatholicZ09 · #2 Feb 24, '12, 5:51 pm

I don't really know if they are essential, but if the church has bells, then they should be rung at this time according to local custom. I don't think it really matters how many bells are rung; my parish has fake bells, and the machine is shut off all of Lent and then turns on for the Gloria at the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, turns off, and then comes back on for the Gloria during the Easter Vigil. We also ring the altar bells during both Glorias.

Joe Kelley · #3 Feb 25, '12, 6:27 pm

In olden times, when I was an altar boy, we rang everything we could get our hands on. I suspect that was our enthusiasm rather than any rule. However, I do recall that someplace the Bible tells us to make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Joannm · #4 Feb 25, '12, 7:20 pm

In our parish the altar servers ring the bells during the Gloria on Holy Thursday and at the Vigil. That's what the rubrics tell us to do.

Phemie · #5 Feb 26, '12, 4:42 am

We don't have a church bell but the altar servers and some of the congregation ring a number of bells at this time. We have about 10 different kinds of bells, IIRC.

Anna Claire · #6 Feb 26, '12, 5:37 am

The ringing of bells at the Gloria on Saturday night is according to local custom. We can ring as many bells as we choose and the organ should play loudly. "This is the Night...!!" as the Exultet states....it should be glorious!!