CAMPANELLO. - When, in the twelfth century, the elevation of the sacred Species was introduced into the Mass, c. or little bells, already known among ancient peoples, began to be used in order to draw the attention of the faithful. Their use became common with the introduction of the Messale romano under s. Pio V. The Ritus celebrandi prescribes a signal with the c. at the Sanctus and at the Elevation. In the solemn Masses of the Roman patriarchal basilicas, the signals are not given with the c. According to the instruction of the Rituale romano, when the Blessed Sacrament is carried to a sick person, the cleric «campanulam iugiter pulset», in order to draw the attention of the faithful.
BIBL.: G. Durando, Rationale div. off., Naples 1839, pp. 4, 42, 53; R. de Fleury, La Messe, Paris 1885-89, VI, pp. 154-64 and pls. CDXCVII-DI; Schellen, in Kirchenlexikon, Freiburg im Br. 1897, cols. 1773-74; P. Lavedan, Clochette, in Dict. illustré de la mythologie et des antiquités grecques et romanes, p. 250; H. Leclercq, Clochette, in DACL. III, cols. 1954-91.