CAMPANELLO. — When in the 12th century the elevation of the sacred Species was introduced into the Mass, small bells or tintinnabula, already known among ancient peoples, began to be used to call the faithful to attention. The practice became common with the introduction of the Roman Missal under St. Pius V. The Ritus celebrandi prescribes a ringing of the bell at the Sanctus and at the Elevation. In the solemn Masses of the Roman patriarchal basilicas, the bell is not rung. According to the admonition of the Roman Ritual, when carrying the Blessed Sacrament to a sick person, the server must "campanulam iugiter pulset" to call the faithful to attention.
BIBL.: G. Durando, Rationale div. off., Naples 1536, pp. 4, 42, 53; R. de Fleury, La Messe, Paris, 1883-89, VI, pp. 154-64 and passim; Schellen, in Kirchenlexikon, Freiburg in Br. 1897, cols. 1773-74; P. Lovedan, Clochettes, in Dict. des antiquités grecques et romaines, p. 250; H. Leclercq, Clochettes, in DACL, III, cols. 1954-91.