Tag Archives: crotalus

2017 CROTALUS POLL!

It is customary on Holy Thursday, after the jubilant Gloria introduction, to stop ringing bells in church during the Triduum and, instead, use some kind of clacking or ratchet noisemaker called a crotalus in Latin.  More on those HERE. Here’s a poll.  At … Read More

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TRIDUUM NOTE: Do you have a crotalus? How about two crotali?

Let’s think ahead to the Triduum. Traditionally, after the Gloria of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the church’s bells are silenced and a wooden noise maker is used instead.   The harsh sound is striking.   The … Read More

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Ever parish needs a crotalus or two!

Thinking ahead to the Triduum?  Perhaps it will be this year that Father changes out the bells after the Gloria on Holy Thursday to the crotalus or “ratchet”, the harsh wooden noisemaker. In some places a wooden gizmo with little hammers … Read More

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QUAERITUR: Rattlers in the sanctuary!

From a reader: Our priest and I have recently come into a point of contention. While preparing for the Triduum liturgies, he has denied the use of the crotalus on Maundy Thursday, citing that the General Instruction no longer calls … Read More

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