The Bells of Easter

Apr 30

Fr. Jack with family in front of the bells at Our Lady of Light in Fort Myers, Florida.

When Notre Dame Cathedral re-opened this past December, many people celebrated the new life, spirit, and hope that the restoration symbolized. Many sections of the medieval church were brought back to their original glory after the devastating fire in the spring of 2019. Besides the roof, walls, interior, and sanctuary, the bells of Notre Dame were also cleaned, rehabilitated, and given a new life. Three new bells were added to the belfry and joined the others. In the Fall of 2024, for the first time in more than five years, the sound of the cathedral bells once again filled the air in Paris. Father Guillaume Normand, the cathedral’s vice-rector, said the sound was a “signal of joy.” Fr. Normand told the Associated Press: “We all felt an intense emotion. The cathedral is telling us: I am here, I am waiting for you.”

Bells have always been part of the Christian tradition. Over the centuries, church bells became a way of proclaiming the liturgical and sacramental presence of God. Bells announced the beginning of Mass, the Angelus, the Liturgy of the Hours, the elevation of the bread and wine at the Eucharist, and various events in the life of a Christian: births, deaths, weddings, etc.

During Holy Week, bells are traditionally silenced. At the Vigil on Holy Saturday night and throughout Easter Sunday, bells ring out to announce the joy of the Resurrection. Bells become the sound of new life. In France, the bells take on the role that the Easter Bunny plays in the U.S. Children are told that the “Easter Bells” (les cloches de Paques) fly to Rome to be blessed by the Pope. On their way back to the local church, the bells scatter eggs and treats around the gardens and streets of the towns and cities. Putting the folklore aside, the use of bells during Easter is a practice that gives our celebrations of new life a sensory experience that connects us to the church throughout the ages.

As part of the “soundtrack” of our faith, bells can also be used to announce sad news. On Easter Monday, the bells of St. Peter’s rang throughout the Vatican after the death of Pope Francis. They will ring out again to announce the election of a new pope in just a few weeks.

As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, we can find comfort in knowing that the bells of Christendom continue to be an integral part of our journey. Fr. Normand from Notre Dame reminded us that the bells of that great cathedral were calling out to remind the people that “I am here, I am waiting for you.”

May these words inspire us to find hope and joy in the “everyday Easters” of our daily life. No matter what setbacks or struggles, we have faith that God is always with us … “waiting for us to come home.”

As the bells of France fly to Rome and return each Easter, may we “fly” to the side of the Risen Lord to find healing and hope in our lives. The Easter Bells may bring goodies and treats, but the Lord Himself will bring goodness and grace. He is waiting for us to come home. He is calling on us to celebrate the new life of Christ.