Q: With the ringing of bells at the consecration, many are doing three distinct rings. I had always done just one. Is one preferred. I guess I am old school? At our parish it began around a few years ago.
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A: 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.