April 11, 2008 - When Shepherd 1 touches down next week, Catholics all over the United States will joyfully welcome Benedict XVI our Church’s spiritual leader. To mark this momentous event I have a modest proposition to put forward: The simultaneous ringing of all Catholic Church bells across the entire country.

While there will be very few opportunities for American Catholics to greet the Holy Father in Washington, D.C. and New York our ancient bells can proclaim a message of welcome and joy in acknowledgement of the arrival of the Holy Father.

Traditionally church bells have always played a significant role in Catholic parish churches. They call the community of faith to prayer, they mark the passage of time and they are cast personifications of our Catholic celebrations as well as tragedies. Every day throughout the world, the peals of consecrated bells announce the Angelus and the De Profundis to commemorate the Incarnation and our remembering of the faithful departed. Bells are also signs and symbols of our Catholic celebration of new life and significant moments for our Catholic Church.

Notably, the tolling bell marks the end of a papal reign, and joyfully rings with the election of a new Pontiff. In reality, our sacred church bells are the forerunner to instant messaging and texting, which is part of our daily society.

Well instead of sending, an instant message when Benedict XVI arrives in the United States…every Catholic parish in the country should ring their church bells for ten minutes to joyfully welcome the Bishop of Rome.

Parish communities should insist their priests participate in the joyful welcome of the Holy Father on April 15. Precisely at 4:00 PM, EDST, Benedict’s Catholic flock should participate in the joyful ringing of Catholic Church bells throughout the United States.

The tradition of ringing bells not only will show prayerful support and warm welcomes to the Holy Father, it will also provide an opportunity for American Catholics to illustrate their support of our great American exercise of religious freedom. From a historical perspective as well, it allows American Catholics as citizens to recall foundational events in our American history that permitted this free exercise of our Catholic identity, recalling the great announcement of independence proclaimed by the Liberty Bell in 1776.

Recently, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrated the 200 anniversary of the founding of the Archdioceses of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Bardstown (now Louisville). I cannot think of a more appropriate manner and method to celebrate both the bicentennial of these great Catholic dioceses and the arrival of the Bishop of Rome than with ten minutes of joyful bell ringing.

The welcoming of the Holy Father in this manner will not pose any type of hardship or expense for Catholic parishes in the United States. Most importantly, it will announce our messages of prayers and a heartfelt welcome to our Holy Father. So, readers…call your parish and your local priests and have them ring the church bells on April 15 @ 4:00 PM EDST and provide a loud Catholic welcome to Benedict XVI.



Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author that writes on Catholic religious topics and subjects. His articles can be found at www.catholicnewsagency.com and verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com, and www.pewsitter.com

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Comments received: 9 1. Arnold Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM I believe that Bardstown was/is in Kentucky and was not the forerunner to St. Louis. 2. shawn Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM What's a churchbell? 3. John Lillis Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM Just a technical note...Though the Roman Pontiff does act as the Bishop of Rome from his Cathedral (St. John Lateran's)-- while visiting Rome a couple of years ago and working with the Vatican Radio head, Sister Janet Ferns, she told me quite bluntly that only "reformers" and fallen sechts refer to the Holy Father as the Bishop of Rome as it diminishes his Papal Authority over the entire Catholic Church. Proper to his title and his trip is Roman Pontiff or the Holy See....Again, great suggestion on the ringing of the bells, but I would drop the "Bishop of Rome" reference....Blessings and Peace, John Lillis 4. Sissy WIllis Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM An inspired and inspiring idea! I have left a message at Cardinal Sean O'Malley's blog and blogged about it myself: "For many long years they had never been heard" http://sisu.typepad.com/sisu/2008/04/for-many-long-y.html 5. Mike Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM I am blessed and lucky enough to be participating at the Papal Mass in Yankee Stadium on the 20th. I think your idea is fantastic! This is a joyful event. Let's all pray for the Holy Father's safe journey and for his spiritual gudiance during his pastoral visit to the US 6. Hugh McNichol Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM Sorry....Louisville, KY. MY transcribing error. Author 7. hugh mcnichol Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM In response to John Lillis I prefer these titles for Benedict XVI:Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God." Sr.Janet has the right to be wrong in her incorrect title of Roman Pontiff. The Holy Father is the Supreme Pontiff by correct description and title. The Holy See is correctly a place and not a PERSONAL reference to the Supreme Pontiff. The author. 8. Ygnacia Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM Please join us in this novena for Pope Benedict's trip to and from the United States. This novena starts on the Sunday before he arrives. O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen. O Most gracious Virgin Mary, Holy Mother of Jesus Christ, our Hope, intercede with Him for us, that He may grant our beloved Pope Benedict XVI a safe and fruitful visit to our country. O Patroness of the United States of America, we feel animated with confidence that Your prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions. Amen Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... 9. Maureen Says: April 24, 2008 (Thu) at 12:43:00 PM It would be great if the Church in America could actually do something in unison. Perhaps we could actually show our Catholic pride and joy at this wonderful moment in history.