Q: In a previous post you wrote: The preconciliar rubric called for ringing the bell three times. That was removed in 1969. Now GIRM 150 simply says “the minister rings the small bell at each elevation by the Priest, according to local custom.” When “three times” was removed from the rubric, a single ring was left behind. This was also true of the number of times one strikes one’s breast during the “I confess to almighty God.” One strike, not three.
Now we are back to 3 strikes on one’s breast during the Confiteor (at least in the north-eastern United States). Three bells is also common in the northeast. Is three bells wrong or just not encouraged?
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A: The way I read the rubrics, it is incorrect to strike the breast 3 times at the Confiteor, and incorrect to ring the bells 3 times at the consecration.
But as you point out, both practices are widespread.
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