The "Voice of God"

Ever wonder what the bells high up within the Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church's towers look like as they're ringing? Catch a glimpse with the above video, courtesy of the Saint Meinrad Vocations Office.

These are the four bells in the south bell tower (nearest to the school's buildings). There are two other, much larger, bells in the north tower. Those two ring only on special occasions--solemnities, professions and ordinations, funerals, etc. Still, the four bells in the video are quite large and heavy, not to mention loud. I've been up in that bell tower a few times, and can attest to that. It's not a place you want to be when the bells are actually ringing. Too loud for that--so a small camera was left on the platform to which the bells are anchored, and retrieved later.

The bells are being rung via ropes pulled by young monks far below at the base of the tower (off the Blessed Sacrament Chapel). This occurs--in varied numbers and patterns--prior to each time the monks gather in church for prayer or Mass (five times per day).

Since the bells serve as signals calling us to prayer--or "the Work of God," as St. Benedict terms it, many refer to their ringing as the "Voice of God."