About the Carillon Schedule

The Carillon of Westminster

This is a part of our electronic carillon and chimes every quarter hour. There are four musical phrases; the first phrase chimes 15 minutes past the hour, then two phrases play at the half hour, then three phrases ring 15 minutes prior to the next hour, and on the hour, the full four phrases ring with the hour strike to the number of hours (i.e. 9AM would have nine strikes).

The Angelus

The Angelus is a Catholic prayer that has three invocations and then a collect. There are three strikes for each invocation (a total of 9 strikes - 3 x 3), then a swinging bell for the collect at the end. It is traditional for this prayer to be prayed at 6AM, Noon, and 6PM. Here at the Cathedral, we ring the Angelus at Noon, and 6PM, which replaces the hour strike. The 9 strikes that happen first are rung by our cast MeNeely Bell from 1900. At our Noon Daily Mass, we also pray the Angelus prior to Mass. If you hear these bells, you are welcome to join us in prayer. During the Easter Season (from Easter Sunday through Pentecost), instead of the swinging bell, we ring the chant, Regina Caeli, which replaces the Angelus.

The Call to Mass

10 minutes prior to Masses, we have a swinging bell to call people into Mass. It is an early American tradition, which stems from drumming into worship. Following the 10 minute Call to Mass, the Director of Music and Organist, Michael Steven Lianos, plays a hymn or chant of the day 5 minutes prior to Masses where he is providing music.

Triduum

It is Catholic tradition to joyously ring all the bells during the Gloria at Holy Thursday prior to Easter. Then the bells and carillons remain silent until the Gloria at the Great Easter Vigil, which is Saturday before Easter.

Funeral Toll

Following Funeral Masses, it is tradition to toll our cast MeNeely Bell from 1900 so that we, as a community, may pray for the deceased and the family left behind.

Hymns

Hymns of the season are rung at 9AM, 12:30PM, 3PM and 6:30PM during the weekdays.

Marian Antiphons

At 9PM, after our last hour strike, the Marian Antiphon of the season is rung. Throughtout the year, there are 4 antiphons that conclude Compline, or night prayer. Advent and Christmas are "Alma Redemptoris Mater", Lent is "Ave Regina Caelorum", Easter is "Regina Caeli", and Ordinary Time (or counted time) is "Salve Regina".