Agnus Dei
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Agnus Dei is a Latin term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial offering that atones for the sins of man in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices. See Lamb of God for an explanation of this. Agnus Dei is used to refer to several things related to it.
[edit] Art and sacramental
In ecclesiastical art, an Agnus Dei is a representation of Jesus as a lamb bearing a cross. It is also a tablet of wax stamped with a representation of Jesus as a lamb bearing a cross, then blessed by the Supreme Pontiff as a sacramental.
The Moravian church uses an Agnus Dei as their seal with the surrounding inscription Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur ("Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow him.").
[edit] Liturgy
In the liturgical Mass the Agnus Dei is the invocation to the Lamb of God to have mercy and grant peace to the worshippers. See Catholic Encyclopedia article. It is said to have been introduced into the Mass by Pope Sergius I (687–701). Based upon John 1:29, the Latin form (with translation) is:
- Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
- Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
- Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
- Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
- Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
- Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
This litany is spoken or sung during the Rite of Fraction and Commingling in the Roman Catholic liturgy. In a Requiem Mass, the words "miserere nobis" are replaced by "dona eis requiem" (give them rest), and "dona nobis pacem" with "dona eis requiem sempiternam" (give them rest eternal). John 1:29 is also used just before Communion is distributed to the people, when the priest shows the Host to the congregation and says, "Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccatum mundi." ("Behold the Lamb of God, behold he who taketh away the sin of the world.")
It also appears in the Eucharistic liturgies of other Communions. In the Anglican Communion, it may be sung by the choir or the whole congregation prior to or at the beginning of the administration of Holy Communion. As with the Roman Catholic tradition, a Requiem Mass substitutes the final phrase with "grant them rest."
In the Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church, the Agnus Dei is listed (along with Pascha Nostrum) as one of several Fraction Anthems that may be used at the breaking of the bread.
[edit] Music
This liturgical text has been set to music by many composers, usually as part of a Mass setting, but sometimes it stands alone, e.g. it is the lyrics for the choral arrangement of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings.
Agnus Dei is also the name of several other songs, which may not have the traditional words:
- The atmospheric opening piece from Elliot Goldenthal's soundtrack to the movie Alien 3
- A song on Rufus Wainwright's Want Two album.
- A contemporary Christian praise song written by Michael W. Smith first released on his 1990 CD Go West Young Man. Later Smith performed it on his 2001 CD Worship. The song was subsequently covered by Third Day on their 2000 CD Offerings: A Worship Album. Donnie McClurkin has recorded a rendition of Michael W. Smith's Agnus Dei on his 2005 CD entitled "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs".
- The name of an instrumental produced by Asaki for Drummania 9/Guitar Freaks 10.
- The name of a CD single produced by Janus.
- The group bel Canto set the Agnus Dei to music on the holiday compilation CD Winter, Fire & Snow.
- Guy Gross set a version of Agnus Dei to music in a funeral scene in the tv series Farscape.
- A song track from the Namco videogame Ace Combat 04 (specifically, the background music for the final mission, "Megalith"). This rendition of Agnus Dei is properly called "Megalith~Agnus Dei" and features a 4-part chorus arrangement and a mix of classical and techno elements.
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Gregorian chants of the Roman Mass | 
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Kyrie | Gloria | Credo | Sanctus | Agnus Dei | Ite missa est or Benedicamus Domino | |||
