Image via WikipediaS. Antonio's used to be run by capuchin monks (friars I'm pretty sure, but the newsletter call them fathers), but relatively recently it came back into the hands of the diocese, due to the financial crisis I think. Incidentally, this means that Don Alcide has a lot more room than one priest really needs. Anyway, it seems that the capuchins meant to put up some bells to replace the speakers that they'd been making do with. Apparently this is an unusual thing to do in this day and age, but they wanted to. However, with the parish being returned to the diocese, it got put on the back-burner.
But now they're sitting at the back of church waiting to go up, for Easter I gather, and they were blessed at the 11 o'clock mass last week. Unfortunately we weren't there so that we could go on a guided tour of Sassuolo (don't worry Sunday obligation fans, we have options) but I wanted to put up the texts on the bells, because it's good stuff. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the translations, because the original texts are in Latin, and I translated from the Italian translation, but I don't imagine it's that far off:
First Bell
Image: Blessed Virgin Mary
My soul magnifies the Lord
I praise the true God,
I call the faithful,
I gather the Clergy,
I mourn for the dead,
I shatter the lightning,
I solemnise the feasts.
Second Bell
Image: St. Francis of Assisi
Seraphic Patriarch
I believe, Lord, but that I may believe more firmly.
I hope, but that I may hope much more.
I love, but that I may love more ardently.
I have repented, but that I may repent more intensely.
Third Bell
Image: St. Anthony of Padua
Father of the poor
May my voice be the terror of all demons.
Fourth Bell
Image: St. Pio of Pietrelcina
I am crucified even without the Cross.
My word is a word of life.
I summon you for holy things; come.
Fifth Bell
Image: Angels
Glory to God in the highest heavens
All the Angels, the Heavens, all the Powers, the
Cherubim and the Seraphim ceaselessly proclaim:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.
