The phrase denotes a form of ecclesiastical excommunication, traditionally enacted in the Roman Catholic Church. This solemn rite involved the ringing of a bell, the closing of a book (typically a Bible or Book of Gospels), and the extinguishing of a candle. These actions symbolically represented the cutting off of the excommunicated individual from the community of the faithful, the closing of the scriptures to them, and the extinguishing of the light of God’s grace in their life.
Historically, this practice served as a powerful deterrent against serious offenses against the Church and its doctrines. The ritual’s dramatic and public nature aimed to impress upon the individual the gravity of their transgression and to encourage repentance. Beyond the spiritual implications, excommunication carried significant social consequences, often leading to ostracization from the wider community.
