Bells

One of the--dare I say it?--fun parts of being an altar server is ringing the bells.  Ringing the bells is really the only time you can get away with making a loud noise in the sanctuary.  However, it's easy to tell when a bell ringer messes up, so it's important to know how and when to use them.

During your typical High Mass, there are generally a total of three times a server has to use the sanctuary bells.  The first time is during the epiclesis (or Hac Igitur), the part of the Prayers at the Consecration when the priest calls on the Holy Spirit to make the gifts of the bread and wine into sacrificial matter.  At this time, the deacon (or priest if no deacon is present) will remove the pall from atop the chalice and kneel.  What the celebrant actually says varies depending on which Eucharistic Prayer he uses.  You should become familiar with what the words are for each of the prayers so that you won't be caught off guard.

Eucharistic Prayer 1 (Roman Canon) 

Bless and approve our offering: make it acceptable to you, an offering in
spirit and in truth. Let it become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ,
your only Son, our Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer 2

Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. Let your
Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may
become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Eucharistic Prayer 3

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them
holy by the power of your Spirit, that they may become the body and
blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we
celebrate this Eucharist.

Eucharistic Prayer 4

Father, may this Holy Spirit sanctify these offerings. Let them
become the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord as we celebrate
the great mystery which he left us as an everlasting covenant.

The server should ring the bells for the entirety of each of these passages.

Thenext instance the server uses the sanctuary bells is during the consecration of the bread and wine.  I should note that there are several ways to ring the bells at the consecrations, and I will describe a few.

• One ring as the priest elevates the host and chalice
• Three separate rings as the priest elevates the host and chalice
• One ring as the priest elevates the host/chalice, one ring when the places them on the altar, and one ring as he genuflects.  

One should keep in mind the speed at which the celebrant usually elevates and places the species back on the altar.  Sometimes the priest will wait for the rings, other times you'll have to time the rings just right.  Know your priests.

In extraordinary circumstances sanctuary bells are used (or not used).

1. During the Gloria on Holy Thursday, the bells are rung from start to finish.
2. After the Gloria on Holy Thursday, NO bells are used, even at the Consecration.  Instead of bells, a wooden clapper is used.  Bells are not used again unitl the Easter Vigil.
3. During the Gloria of the Easter Vigil
4. Bells are generally used in processions, except during the procession to the Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday.  At this time, the clapper should be used.

While not technically used during the liturgy, if you have sacristy bells to signal when the procession is leaving the sacristy, use them!

So, bells add to the reverence of the Mass if they are used properly, and it can be really noticeable if not done properly.  Memorize when they should be used and practice using them!