Why do we ring bells at Mass? This Catholic priest explains the history behind this medieval tradition!
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There’saconversationgoingonaboutwhyweringbellsintheCatholicMass.Theanswerssofarhavebeenincompleteorincorrect.
Here’sthewholethingexplained:IntheMiddleAges,churcheshadmanysidealtars.YoucanstillseethemanysidechapelswhenyouvisitamedievalcathedralinEurope.
Oftenthesidechapelswereaddedtoachurchorcathedralbyawealthybenefactorwholeftanendowment(aparceloflandfromwhichtherewouldbearevenuestream).
Theendowmentpaidforapriest’sstipendtosayMassinthatchapeleverydayforthereposeofthesoulofthedonorandhisfamilymembers.
Asaresult,Massesweresaideverydayatallthesidechapelsandaltars.Inthemonasteries,allthemonk-priestscelebratedtheirownMassfordesignatedintentions.Thestipendspaidbythedonorssupportedthepriestormonk.
Thesepriestswerecalled“chantrypriests”andinadditiontotheirdutyofsayingMassintheirchapel,theyoftenhadpastoralduties.
ThechantrychapelinoneoftheoldAnglicanchurcheswhereIserved,f
