Whispers in the Loggia: "Bells for Benedict"

Rocco Palmo of Whispers in the Loggia polishes up a superb idea from the blog Pewsitter.com! The Pewsitter blog writes:

Well instead of sending, an instant message when Benedict XVI arrives in the United States…every Catholic parish in the country should ring their church bells for ten minutes to joyfully welcome the Bishop of Rome.

Communities should [ask or encourage their parishes to] participate in the joyful welcome of the Holy Father on April 15 [Tuesday]. Precisely at 4:00 PM, EDT, Benedict’s Catholic flock should participate in the joyful ringing of Catholic Church bells throughout the United States.

Rocco thinks (as do I) that ten minutes might be a bit "much." It also leaves out Parishes without bells. So, Palmo suggests:

In addition to this, even for those places without bells, maybe the hour of arrival -- again, 4 PM Eastern on Tuesday (3 Central, 2 Mountain, 1 Pacific, Noon in Alaska, and 10am on Hawaii) -- could be marked across the trenches with some sort of opportunity for public prayer for the Pope, the whole Stateside church and the visit's success: Holy Hour, Mass, Office, Te Deum, Rosary; again, whatever works.

If it isn't the most feasible thing in every place, at the very least, some sort of chance to gather and pray together would be especially appropriate in the cathedrals and other prominent churches... not to mention the no less than 60 minor basilicas across this land which, of course, enjoy a special link to the chair of Peter.

For what it's worth, something tells me the response would be surprisingly positive.

See the entire idea here on Whispers. I think it is a brilliant idea! Pass it on! We are just down the road after all!