Calling the Faithful to Prayer

For generations, church bells have called people to gather, pray, and mark important moments in the life of the church. Before a service begins, that familiar sound can serve as a simple invitation to pause and prepare for worship. 

The tradition of ringing church bells dates back to AD 400, when Paulinus of Nola first introduced bells in association with a church. In AD 604, Pope Sabinianus officially sanctioned bells’ usage.

By the early Middle Ages, church bells had become common in northern Europe, reflecting the influence of Irish missionaries. We have started our own tradition of ringing church bells here at St. Benedict.

The assigned Chalice Bearer will ring the bells three times ten minutes before the Service is to begin and three more times when the Service is set to begin.  

We are grateful for the support, donations, work, and prayers that have aligned our Congregation with this long-standing tradition and practice.