BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE

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This phrase comes from the Roman Catholic rite of "major excommunication" or "anathema", which dates abck to around thee 6th Century. It is the eqwuivalent of a "Catholic curse", applied to someone who has "transgressed the strict laws of the Church"-"ssomone who has made shipwreck of their faith", either by flagrant and impenitent immorality or by denial of fundamental Christian teachings.

The bell represents the open announcement of the act, the book is the authority of the words spoken by the bishop, and the candles(or taper) symbolize the possibility that the ban could be lifted, should the accused be sufficiently repentant.

The rite can be applied to anyone deemed needy of "punishment" by seperation for Holy Mother Church,the sacrements, and from any hope of salvation , unless repentent for their acts. During history, this "Rite" has been applied to simple individuals, men in authoeity, kings for example, and even to entire countries. as deemed appropriate by the pope or his advisors, and to be carried out by a bishop or higher church offical, perhaps even the pope himself, especially if done to king and /or country, as in the case of Henry VIII and after his creation of the Church of England.

The rite is always carried out in a public place. The excommunicating bishop is assisted by 12 priests, each holding a lit taper. The bishop says" wee seperate him/them, from the prescious body and blood of the Lord and from the Society of all Christians; we exclude him/them from our holy mother the Church...we declare him/them excommunicate and anathema; we judge him damned and condemned to eternal fire with Satann and his angels and all the reprobate, so long as he will not burst the fetters of the demon, do penance and satisfy the Church". A bell is rung and the holy book is closed. The priests respond "So be it" then they extinguish their tapers and trample on them. This signifies the end of the of the excommunicate attachment to the Church and from the sight of God.("The Catholic Book of Rituals and Rites) and personal material.
 

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