The phrase denotes a type of ecclesiastical excommunication, historically enacted within the Roman Catholic Church. This solemn ceremony concerned the ringing of a bell, the closing of a e book (usually a Bible or Ebook of Gospels), and the extinguishing of a candle. These actions symbolically represented the chopping off of the excommunicated particular person from the group of the devoted, the closing of the scriptures to them, and the extinguishing of the sunshine of God’s grace of their life.
Traditionally, this observe served as a robust deterrent in opposition to severe offenses in opposition to the Church and its doctrines. The ritual’s dramatic and public nature aimed to impress upon the person the gravity of their transgression and to encourage repentance. Past the religious implications, excommunication carried vital social penalties, typically resulting in ostracization from the broader group.
