July 2016

Simon doesn't take his responsibility for 'Wetterlauten' (the practice of ringing bells to ward off bad weather) too seriously(see blog 1 - 7 October 2012). And with good reason. This practice led to the untimely deaths of some unfortunate Mesners and was banned in 1783. Many of the church bells in our region carry the inscription 'Vivos Voco. Mortuos plango.Fulgura frango'. 'I call the living, I mourn the dead, I repel lightning'. Really though, the bells don't repel lightning they conduct it, right down to the Mesner who is ringing it.