The Bell is like the clock to the Abbey visitors, since no one has a clock in their room and your cell phone doesn't even dependably get the time. The Bell is rung to call visitors, monks, and staff to 5 'offices' a day: Vigils at 6 AM (no bell for that one), Lauds at 7:30 AM, Mass at noon, Vespers at 6 PM, and Compline at 8:30 PM, after which everyone observes complete silence until 6 the next morning (apparently Benedictines traditionally do one at 2 in the morning called Matins but thankfully these guys don't do that, or if they do, we guests aren't invited....) The offices consist of prayers, readings, and this ancient tradition of singing that we now have on CD ("Gregorian Chant") except these guys do the chant in English. Basically it sounds like the bible being sung with only a few different tunes. They hand out sheet music to help you sing with the monks, who mostly know it by heart, except the younger ones.
The bell is so loud you can hear it clearly in every part of the acres of land of which the Abbey consists. I saw a novice monk ringing the bell while wearing hearing-protective headphones, and black monk's robes; an awesome fashion ensemble.
A smaller bell calls you to meals, and believe me they put the food on the table the second the last dong rings out. Get in the refectory as soon as you hear the little bell, or you will be late for lunch.
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