Post by pigeonpie on Dec 3, 2009 7:23:04 GMT
New bells for the Santa Maria
Thanks to a German couple and two Menorcan families the Santa Maria Church in Maó will shortly have four new bells to replace the existing three which have greatly deteriorated with the passage of time.
Born as the result of an historic event, the initiative is a show of gratitude to the people of Maó and Menorca in general for the welcome given to the crew of the merchant ship “Mathilde” when the vessel was detained in Maó harbour for the five years of the First World War. The crew, who were finally forced to abandon the ship which was handed over to the French as war booty, were well received by the Menorcans.
A German couple thought of the idea of making four new bells for the Santa Maria and took charge of the project, following it through and providing part of the necessary finance, two Menorcan families supplying the balance.
The bells have been founded in a traditional way at the Maria Laach Benedictine monastery in Germany which has a 900-year history of bell-making and is renowned for the quality of its products. The monastery itself has twelve bells whose tones are recognised as being amongst the most beautiful in Germany. The monk Michael Reuter was in charge of founding the Sant Maria’s bells using a centuries-old method, the result being four beautifully harmonious bells, the tones of which play the first four notes in the Gregorian chant “Salve Regina”.
To celebrate the arrival of the bells, a conference is to be held on Saturday in the Town Hall by the doctor Francesc Llop i Bayo, an anthropologist from Valencia and president of the Cathedral Bellringers, entitled “Les campanes, la veu de la comunitat” (“Bells, the voice of the community”).
On Sunday 6th, at 1100 hrs., the Bishop of Menorca, Salvador Giménez Valls, will bless the bells and celebrate Eucharist.
Members of the public, however, will have to wait a while before being allowed to view the bells in the church tower as the parish wants to have sufficient funds to be able to organise this activity.
The “Sancta Maria, A.D. MMIX” is the largest of the four bells, weighing 600 kgs. and measuring 1 metre at the base. Dedicated to St. Mary, the upper part is decorated with roses and bears its name. A relief of Mary carrying Jesus in her arms is set in the centre and the lower part bears the inscription “Ave Maria Gratia Plena” (Hail Mary, full of grace).
The second bell, “Sancte Joseph A.D. MMIX”, weighs 305 kgs. and is 80 cms. wide at the base. Dedicated to St. Joseph it has ears of corn and grapes encircling the top and a Latin inscription, to the left of the figure of Joseph, dedicated to Joan F. Taltavull Galens, German Consul 1900-1931, and Waldemar Herrnbrodt, Captain of the “Mathilde”, by the latter’s granddaughter, Maria.
“Sancte Antoni A.D. MMIX” weighs 208 kgs. and has a diameter of 69.5 cms. It is dedicated to St. Anthony, the patron saint of Menorca. Under a frieze of palm branches there is a relief of St. Anthony in the desert below which is the inscription “pray for the diocese of Menorca”. To the left of the bell is a dedication to the memory of Sra. Rosa Martinez Jaume.
At 146 kgs. and 62 cms. in diameter, the “Sancte Petre A.D. MMIX” is the smallest of the four bells to grace the Santa Maria Church. Dedicated to St. Peter it features fish on the upper part, below which is a relief showing the saint fishing with nets from a boat. The Latin inscription to the left of the bell translates as “offering of Sra. Maria Herrnbrodt of Germany”.
Thanks to a German couple and two Menorcan families the Santa Maria Church in Maó will shortly have four new bells to replace the existing three which have greatly deteriorated with the passage of time.
Born as the result of an historic event, the initiative is a show of gratitude to the people of Maó and Menorca in general for the welcome given to the crew of the merchant ship “Mathilde” when the vessel was detained in Maó harbour for the five years of the First World War. The crew, who were finally forced to abandon the ship which was handed over to the French as war booty, were well received by the Menorcans.
A German couple thought of the idea of making four new bells for the Santa Maria and took charge of the project, following it through and providing part of the necessary finance, two Menorcan families supplying the balance.
The bells have been founded in a traditional way at the Maria Laach Benedictine monastery in Germany which has a 900-year history of bell-making and is renowned for the quality of its products. The monastery itself has twelve bells whose tones are recognised as being amongst the most beautiful in Germany. The monk Michael Reuter was in charge of founding the Sant Maria’s bells using a centuries-old method, the result being four beautifully harmonious bells, the tones of which play the first four notes in the Gregorian chant “Salve Regina”.
To celebrate the arrival of the bells, a conference is to be held on Saturday in the Town Hall by the doctor Francesc Llop i Bayo, an anthropologist from Valencia and president of the Cathedral Bellringers, entitled “Les campanes, la veu de la comunitat” (“Bells, the voice of the community”).
On Sunday 6th, at 1100 hrs., the Bishop of Menorca, Salvador Giménez Valls, will bless the bells and celebrate Eucharist.
Members of the public, however, will have to wait a while before being allowed to view the bells in the church tower as the parish wants to have sufficient funds to be able to organise this activity.
The “Sancta Maria, A.D. MMIX” is the largest of the four bells, weighing 600 kgs. and measuring 1 metre at the base. Dedicated to St. Mary, the upper part is decorated with roses and bears its name. A relief of Mary carrying Jesus in her arms is set in the centre and the lower part bears the inscription “Ave Maria Gratia Plena” (Hail Mary, full of grace).
The second bell, “Sancte Joseph A.D. MMIX”, weighs 305 kgs. and is 80 cms. wide at the base. Dedicated to St. Joseph it has ears of corn and grapes encircling the top and a Latin inscription, to the left of the figure of Joseph, dedicated to Joan F. Taltavull Galens, German Consul 1900-1931, and Waldemar Herrnbrodt, Captain of the “Mathilde”, by the latter’s granddaughter, Maria.
“Sancte Antoni A.D. MMIX” weighs 208 kgs. and has a diameter of 69.5 cms. It is dedicated to St. Anthony, the patron saint of Menorca. Under a frieze of palm branches there is a relief of St. Anthony in the desert below which is the inscription “pray for the diocese of Menorca”. To the left of the bell is a dedication to the memory of Sra. Rosa Martinez Jaume.
At 146 kgs. and 62 cms. in diameter, the “Sancte Petre A.D. MMIX” is the smallest of the four bells to grace the Santa Maria Church. Dedicated to St. Peter it features fish on the upper part, below which is a relief showing the saint fishing with nets from a boat. The Latin inscription to the left of the bell translates as “offering of Sra. Maria Herrnbrodt of Germany”.
