Oh Those Bells

Each day is like the blank piece of paper that appears when you pull up Microsoft Word. Unknown just what will be written as you let the Holy Spirit start the flow of thoughts going forth. There is the sound of the college bells ringing softly in the background as I write.

Hmm, Bells—ring out to remind you of the passing of time, a call to prayer, to alert you to something happening, to be a part of rejoicing and celebration, or to toll when someone passes into another life—Bells. I just now realized that bells is one subject that I have not given much thought too except when I hear them and listen to the beauty of the harmony and how they awaken within memories of a sound that tells me God is nigh.

We were so blessed because Dad chose to build a home across the street from a church. Bells, therefore, were a daily part of our life, and did all that was listed above. Especially when they rang as a call to prayer three times a day, reminding us to say the Angelus.

For those who are not familiar with the Angelus, this is a 12th Century prayer said at 6 a.m, 12 noon and 6 pm to remind us of the greatest Gift of all, the Incarnation of Christ our Lord.

The Angelus

“The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she was conceived of the Holy Spirit.”

(Recite Hail Mary)

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy Word.” (Recite Hail Mary)

“And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us.” (Recite Hail Mary).

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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"

Now why were we to pray this prayer and why should we do so now? Since last week’s great retreat, the Holy Spirit has led me to sit and read a Scripture three times a day, for as the body needs food, so does our soul! This Angelus prayer is a reminder of the greatest act of Love given to us by God our Father. AND we need this reminder, for though out the day we are being assaulted by multitudes of thoughts, worries, burdens, work, and the behavior of all those who come into our life. We need to remember again and again that GOD IS, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit came and therefore, ALL IS WELL!! (“So, stop acting as if there is no God in your life!!” This is what the Holy Spirit tells me A LOT!)

There is a song that has a line in it, “Forget about yourself and concentrate on Him and worship Him” x 3 and then, “worship Christ the Lord.” What if the focus of every moment of everyday was to do that—Worship Christ the Lord? It will be, if your beginning prayer before rising is one of, “in all that I do, Oh Lord, this day, may I do it for You. Whatever we do, when we act in love, we are worshipping Christ our Lord—aren’t we?