Letter from Cardinal Tagle on Tolling of Bells

From Catechetical Materials on the De Profundis Bell

“The tradition of ringing a bell to remind the faithful to pray for the dead is a very ancient custom. The De Profundis Bell was rung to denote a time of the day to recite Psalm 130. The origin of this custom is accredited to Pope Urban II, who promoted the ringing of the De Profundis in order to pray for Christian armies in the Crusade.”

“Toward the end of each evening, the bells strike the De Profundis.  The De Profundis is a slow, solemn and measured toll of the bourdon bell [our heaviest bell that produces the lowest tone] that marks the end of the day. The name comes from the first two Latin words of Psalm 130, meaning “out of the depths.”  This prayer is offered for our departed loved ones who have gone home to God.  Upon hearing the sound of the bell, we are invited to pray Psalm 130 or offer an Our Father and Hail Mary for the faithful departed.”

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleading.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt,
Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness:
for this we revere you.

My soul is waiting for the Lord.
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord
more than watchman for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on daybreak
and Israel on the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy
and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem
from all its iniquity.

Our Father . . .
Hail Mary . . .
Glory Be . . .

V./       Eternal rest, grant unto the faithful departed, O Lord,
R./       and let perpetual light shine upon them.

V./       May they rest in peace.
R./       Amen.

V./       May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R./       Amen.

Salmo 130

Sa gitna ng paghihirap,
tinatawag ko’y Panginoon.
Kaya Panginoon, ako’y dinggin
pagka’t ako’y tumataghoy,
dinggin mo ang pagtawag ko’t
paghingi ng iyong tulong.

Kung ikaw ay may talaan
nitong aming kasalanan,
lahat kami ay tatanggap
ng hatol mong nakalaan.

Ngunit iyong pinatawad,
kasalanan ay nilimot,
pinatawad mo nga kami
upang sa’yo ay matakot.

Sabik akong naghihintay,
sa tulong mo Panginoon,
pagkat ako’y may tiwala
sa pangako mong pagtulong.

Yaring aking pananabik, Panginoon,
ay higit pa sa bantay
na naghihintay ng pagsapit ng umaga.

Magtiwala ka, Israel,
magtiwala sa iyong Diyos,
matatag at di kukupas
ang pag-ibig niyang dulot,
lagi siyang nakahandang sa sinuman ay tumubos.
Ililigtas ang Israel, yaong kanyang hirang,
ililigtas niya sila sa kanilang kasalanan.

Ama namin . . .
Aba Ginoong Maria . . .
Luwalhati sa Ama . . .

V./       Kapayapaan kailanman ang igawad ng Maykapal sa mga yumaong ating mahal.
R./       Sila nawa ay silayan ng ilaw na walang hanggan.

V./       Mapanatag nawa sila sa kapayapaan.
R./       Amen.

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