Perhaps you’ve already heard ~ the bells of St. Mary’s will soon be ringing! Thank you to the family of Henry and Margaret “Peg” Mosychuk who donated the Carillon System in their parents’ memory.
The bells will be scheduled to ring before all weekday and weekend Masses with the exception of the earliest Masses, as a courtesy to our neighbors. In addition, the bells will ring for funerals, weddings, and other occasions. Also, each day at 12:00pm and 6:00pm, which are the traditional times to pray The Angelus. This prayer recalls the wondrous gift of the Incarnation. It takes less than a minute to say, but can serve to punctuate our day with this reminder that God became man and dwelt among us.
The prayer serves to detach us from whatever we may be doing and turn our attention toward God. The mid-19th century painting “The Angelus” by Jean-François Millet captures the moment when two farmers stop their work to offer up this touching prayer.
Hopefully, hearing our bells ring at 12:00pm and 6:00pm will inspire us to drop whatever we’re doing and take a moment to turn to God. Even if we’re out of earshot of the bells we can still stop and pray at the 12:00pm and 6:00pm hours (and 6:00am for the early risers!). May our new bells inspire us to prayer, to announce the joy of our faith, and turn many hearts and minds to God.
The Angelus
V/. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R/. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary . . .
V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R/. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.
Hail Mary…
V/. And the Word was made Flesh,
R/. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
V/. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray ~ Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr. Wayne