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Why don't we ring church bells anymore for the Angelus and Sunday Masses?
Do the Catholic schools say the Angelus at noon?
Why do the Catholic school cafeterias serve meat on Ash Wednesday?
Why aren't we blessing with holy water at Sunday Masses?
Why don't we use incense anymore?

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These practices, some of which we consider sacramentals (sacred rituals), which you mention are helpful to the development of our faith life, although they are not essential.

Church bells? Bells were in use as early as the sixth century, at first small ones and later large ones in belfries. When people didn't have dozens of timepieces as we do today, church bells had a very practical purpose calling people to Mass and to prayer. They were also used to announce a person's death, as well as to inform everyone of the moment of consecration.

However, I do not believe that many churches built in the last 50 years or so have bells. Those that do, like St. Joseph's Basilica, ring them for Sunday Masses. As modern life is much different in its demands, the Church bells at the basilica are not rung for the early Mass on Sunday out of respect for the people who may be sleeping in.

On weekdays, they are rung at noon and evening. These times are for either or both the Mass and Angelus (Latin for angels, the first word of the prayer). There is something beautiful about hearing church bells ring and it's too bad that we can't hear them all over the city. Certainly, the call to prayer is heard all over and during the day and night in Muslim countries.

I do not know if the schools say the Angelus, but if they don't, there may be practical reasons for not doing so. However, it would be beneficial for all of us to stop in the midst of our day, as depicted in the painting by Millet of this Catholic practice, to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation which is what the Angelus is about.

It would be beneficial for all of us to stop in the midst of our day to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation

And it certainly would be good to have students introduced to this beautiful, ancient Church prayer by explaining its meaning and saying it daily at noon over the intercom.

If school cafeterias are serving meat on Ash Wednesday, surely it is an oversight that may not be easily correctable at the last minute. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the only two days when abstinence from meat is required of Catholics.

And I don't believe it is too much to expect all of us to observe this, even those younger than 14 though the law does not apply to them. I cannot help but cite the Muslim fasting of Ramadan as an example to us.

Holy water is a sacramental and reminds us of our Baptism. We are free to use it as much as we like, to bless ourselves upon entering the church or at home at various times. Priests bless palms on Palm Sunday with holy water.

They may bless the gathered community with holy water at Sunday Masses, whenever they so choose and some do so at least occasionally. This blessing is usually carried out instead of, or as part of, the penitential rite at the beginning of Mass. Perhaps, more could be done in this regard.

Burning incense is an ancient practice. Among pagans, it was burned to the gods as an important part of worship and to keep evil spirits away. Jews often combined it with burning sacrifices. In Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4, gold vessels of incense symbolize the prayers of the people. So, for Christians, incense symbolizes our prayer going up to God.

At first, early Christians hesitated to use incense because of its pagan origins, but when paganism was no longer a threat, they began to use it to bless and honour the altar, the sanctuary, the priests and eventually, the people.

However, incense burning presents its own problems, as some people are allergic to it. One priest who liked using incense especially for feasts solved the problem by indicating in the bulletin ahead of time at which Masses he would use incense. With several Masses available, those with an allergy could choose a Mass with no incense.

I hope this answers your questions. And, I hope it alerts us all of the need to think about how conscious we are of God's presence in our daily lives and of our necessity to renew ourselves spiritually during our work.

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