Agnus Dei
Agnus Dei is the Latin name under which the "Lamb of God" is honoured within Christian liturgies descending from the historic Latin liturgical tradition, including those of Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. It is the name given to a specific prayer that occurs in these liturgies, and is the name given to the music pieces that accompany the text of this prayer.[1][2]
The use of the title "Lamb of God" in liturgy is based on John 1:29, in which St. John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus, proclaims "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Liturgical usage
Latin Catholic
The Syrian custom of a chant addressed to the Lamb of God was introduced into the Roman Rite Mass by Pope Sergius I (687–701)[3][4] in the context of his rejection of the Council of Trullo of 692 (which was well received in the Byzantine East), whose canons had forbidden the iconographic depiction of Christ as a lamb instead of a man.[5]
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. |
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. |
—Latin | —English translation[6] |
The verse used in the first and second invocations may be repeated as many times as necessary whilst the celebrant prepares the host and wine for communion.[7]
In a
The priest uses the phrase "Lamb of God" again, later in the Mass. While displaying the Eucharistic species to the people before giving them
Anglican
The following instances are found in the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer:
From "The Litany":
O Lamb of God: that takest away the sins of the world; Grant us thy peace.
O Lamb of God: that takest away the sins of the world; Have mercy upon us.
From "Holy Communion":
Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
The following versions are found in Common Worship, the alternative Anglican liturgical resources, and also in the Episcopal Church's liturgical resources:
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace.
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.
Lutheran
The version found in the
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us Your peace, grant us Your peace.
Evangelical Protestants
A popular worship song among
Alleluia Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia Holy
Holy
Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy
(Last stanza repeats 3 times)
A
In popular culture
Outside religious use, the text has been used by composers and groups such as:
- Seigmen for Agnus Dei
- Elliot Goldenthal for Alien 3
- Keiki Kobayashi for Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
- Elitsa Alexandrova for Assassin's Creed Rogue
- Enya for the song "Trains and Winter Rains"
- Halsey for the song "Castle"
- Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) soundtrack for episodes 17 and 18
- Jon Bellion for Ooh
- New Age Worldbeat group Enigma for the song "Agnus Dei"
- Rufus Wainright for the song "Agnus Dei" from the album Want Two
- Mylène Farmer "Agnus Dei" (1991)
- Dream Theater for the song "Bridges in the Sky" from the album A Dramatic Turn of Events
- Paul Ruskay for Homeworld
- Michael W. Smith "Agnus Dei" (1990)
- Britten's War Requiem, in which the text is interleaved with Wilfred Owen's poem "At a Calvary near the Ancre"
- Power metal group Sanctified With Dynamitein its live editions.
- Dan Simmons' sci-fi novel Hyperion, inserted as a sentence in the first chapter
References
- ISBN 0-674-01163-5.
- ^ Atkinson, Charles Mercer (1975). The Earliest Settings of the Agnus Dei and Its Tropes. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina. p. 14.
- ISBN 0-300-11597-0.
- ^ Reader Daniel Lieuwen. "Lives of Orthodox Western Saints". McKinney, Texas: St Nicholas Orthodox Church.
- ISBN 978-0-7391-1977-8.
- ^ a b "Texts for Order of Mass Settings". International Committee on English in the Liturgy and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- ^ General Instruction of the Roman Missal. §83.
The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words dona nobis pacem ('grant us peace').
- ^ Chandler, Charles (20 June 2015). "Christians in Ukraine After Festival of Hope: 'Great and Mighty Is Our God'". Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Ukrainian choir composed of refugees celebrates Easter from Lviv". Fox News. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.