ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH
Bell Prayers: The Angelus
Our Church bell will ring the Angelus three times a day (8:45am, 12:00pm and 6:00pm).
The bell will toll three times, pause, toll three times, pause, toll three times, pause then followed by the Last Prayer of a swinging bell ring for about one minute. The Angelus is a brief devotion in honor of the Incarnation that consists of short verses drawn from the Bible and a triple repetition of the Hail Mary. The devotion derives its name from the opening phrase in Latin: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae (the Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary).
The Angelus Prayer
*The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary - And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary…
* Behold the handmaid of the Lord - Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary… *And the Word was made Flesh - And dwelt among us. Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Bell Prayers: De Profundis
At 9:00 p.m. each evening the bell will ring the De Profundis.
The De Profundis is a slow, solemn and measured toll of the bell that marks the end of the day. (nine strikes of the bell) De Profundis refers to the first words of Psalm 130 in Latin: "Out of the depths". This penitential psalm was often prayed as part of the Church's liturgy for the dead. Traditionally, when the De Profundis bell rang at the close of day, it reminded people to pray for the dead. It is only natural to pray for the dead at the close of day when people retire for the evening since the Church prays that the faithful departed would "rest in peace." This prayer is offered for our departed loved ones who have gone home to God. Upon hearing the sound of the bell, we are invited to pray Psalm 130 or offer an Our Father and Hail Mary for the faithful departed.
De Profundis (Psalm 130)
From the depths I have cried out to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If You, Lord, were to mark iniquities, who, O Lord, shall stand? But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; My soul trusts in His word. My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen wait for the dawn. More than watchmen wait for the dawn, let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all His iniquities.
Worship Bells
- Monday to Saturday - 9:00am Mass - Bell rings for one minute
- Saturday – 3:45pm (Quarter Bell) & 4:00pm Mass – Bell rings for one minute each time
- Sunday – 9:45am (Quarter Bell) & 10:00am Mass – Bell rings for one minute each time
- The bell will also ring for Funerals and Weddings
Our site has a parking lot (with handicap ramps for both the church and the parish center accessed by the driveway at 3710 Roland Avenue. There is also ample parking on Roland Avenue, Hickory Avenue (one-way southbound), and West 37th Street - three sides of our campus. We are located one block east of Falls Road and eight blocks south of Coldspring Lane (both easily accessed from I-83). ​