jerezano
Sep 29, 2011, 3:03 PM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: [rockydog85251] Ringing of church bells
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Hello,
Ringing of bells at various churches.
There is usually no cacophony of bells unless some kind of celebration is taking place. You should be in Mexico City at the time of the Guadalupana and listen to the bells of the main cathedral (on the Zócalo) where every bell in the church is rung. Unbelievable!
Depending where you are there are usually no clocks with bells, and if there are, the clock is usually off several minutes from correct. San Miguel de A used to have a clock. Perhaps still does. They normally just toll the hour four bells for 4 AM, one bell for each quarter, and half. etc No Westminster or St Michael chimes. etc. I don't know if that clock still works.
There are lots of cohetes (rockets). Every parish has its patron saint, and at 6 AM you will hear anywhere from three to 6 or so rockets at that saints novena. These will be followed by an equal number sometime around 6:15 and again at 6:30. Anything earlier than 6 AM is really a violation of some regulation of the city.
Now ringing of bells: San Miguel de A has lots of churches. However they do not all have curas or priests. They are closed unless a special visit has been arranged to celebrate the patron saint of that church. The main paroquía on the square will probably ring its bell according to the following pattern
Masses (normal congregations) depend upon how many are held a day at the church. There will be a first call signaled by one bell, a pause and then a lengthy ringing of that same bell signalling the importance of the mass, it will be followed by a pause and another one bell. This will be a half hour before the mass. The bell usually the same one.
Second call will consist of the same except for two bells a pause, etc, followed by another pause and two bells. Fifteen minutes before the mass.
Third and last call will start and end with three bells. This will occur at the time of the mass.
The type of the mass is signaled by the length of the enclosed ringing. A rosary or matins will be shorter than a regular mass.You have to be a catholic to distinguish the type of mass being signaled.
Funerals at the conclusion of the mass are usually signaled by a deep toned bell followed by a long pause and then a lighter toned bell another long pause and the deep bell again etc which is kept up until the body leaves the church, and perhaps for a short time afterward. But usually not for long.
All of the above pertains to the Catholic church. Evangelistic churches do other things, like the music you mentioned in your post.
I hope this answers your questions unless some resident of SMA decides to give better information.
As ever, jerezano
(This post was edited by jerezano on Sep 29, 2011, 3:27 PM)
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