By Johnmer P. Villanueva
Cling…clang…cling…clang… Ding…dong…ding…dong…This sound reverberates in our ears every day when we are about to rise for the days’ works or when we are already fast asleep and in deep slumber. This was the sound that woke the indios when the moros were approaching; the sound mourned too the death of GOMBURZA. This joyfully announced our independence from the US; it cried out too in EDSA. Those were church bells that rang out for these and many other significant events in our history. But why were Church bells made? When and how are they tolled? First, what are bells? A bell is a hollow metallic device that makes a ringing sound when struck. Most of these bells have a round-shaped metal in its hollow part where a rope is attached. It comes in different sizes and colors or even in different designs. Due to these differences among bells, different sounds are created. What are church bells? These are the same hollow metallic devices hanging in church facades (belfries). Why were they made? Why is the church using it? Primarily, a bell through its ringing sound would give a signal. The sound calls the attention of the faithful. It may either signify an invitation for mass, the joy of Gloria, the miracle at consecration, and the return of a solemn procession. It may also signal the Angelus and the 8 o’clock PM memorial of the dead. Church liturgy further believes that the sound of the bell is a divine sound, in fact, the voice of God. The different ways of tolling bells would signify different attentions being called for. One may wish to take the round-shaped metal from its hollow part and opt to use other metals to hammer it. Nonetheless, the different strokes of tolling or differences in metals to hammer it- do not reduce its being a bell. The bellness of a church bell is determined when it is ringing its purpose– that is to sound the voice of God. It may be silent most of the time but God’s voice is often heard at its own time.
Philo Notes 