Dear Friends,
If all goes as planned, you should be hearing the original church bells ringing again this weekend before Masses and in jubilation as the Santa Lucia statue is taken from the church down Tenth Street to the annual festival. What a joy for us to have the bells ringing again. You will notice that the real bells are not as loud as the clarion. Their sound should not disturb the neighborhood, but be a gentle reminder of the presence of God and our church.
In Catholic Churches around the world one of the most common features is a tower or several towers. The tower is like a finger pointing heavenwards, reminding people of their supernatural destiny and encouraging them not to be so engrossed in the pleasures and cares of earth as to forget their only true home. Church towers became a common part of church buildings beginning in the fifth century. But towers are not meant solely for ornament. From their lofty heights there floats down upon the city the melodious harmony of bells, calling people to worship within the church building, and expressing the sentiments both of joy and sorrow.
Perhaps the most regular ringing of church bells took place in monasteries. They would use bells to convene the nuns and monks to prayer and other community exercises. St. Benedict, in his Rule, speaks of the duty of “signifying the hour of the work of God,” and it would appear to have been done by ringing a bell. If you have ever stayed in a monastery, then you know how often the bells call the community to prayer – even very early in the morning! Our bells will ring hourly from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm. They will ring before Masses as a call to prayer. They will ring in celebration after weddings and toll after funerals.
The custom of engraving inscriptions upon bells seems to have begun about the ninth century. The four bells in our tower are inscribed with St. Philomena, St. Joseph, Omnia Sancti and Ave Maria Gratia Plena. Bells are also inscribed with the date they were cast; 1873 is the date inscribed on our bells. They originally hung in St. Philomena’s Cathedral located just north of the present Embassy Suites hotel. When that building was closed and sold to the John Deere Company, the bells, the back altar, the organ and some of the art work were moved to the new St. Philomena’s on 10th and William. I think it is wonderful that the smallest of our bells was named All Saints long before the grade school ever received that name.
Now cleaned up and ringing again, these bells should last a very long time – especially if we take care of them. Thanks to the many of you who donated to make this possible. We realized with the tuck pointing on the tower that other parts of the church are in desperate need of tuck pointing as well. So we will be working on the front of the church, the chimney, and the stone caps of the walls. If we do not do so, water will get into the wall and begin to destroy them. If we want our beautiful church to last long into the future this work is essential. Of course, donations to this effort are always welcome!
Our bells were blessed 143 years ago, but let me encourage you this weekend to ask God to bless them again. Here is the Church’s prayer of blessing that is used when new church bells are blessed:
“Lord, from the beginning of time your voice has called to us, inviting us to communion with you, teaching us the mysteries of your life, guiding us on the way to salvation.
With silver trumpets Moses summoned Israel to gather as your people. Now you are pleased that in the Church the sound of bells should summon your people to prayer. By this blessing accept these bells into your service.
May their voice direct our hearts toward you and prompt us to come gladly to this church, there to experience the presence of Christ, listen to your word, offer you our prayers, and both in joy and in sorrow be friends to one another. Amen.”
Peace,
Fr. Damian