Agnus Dei
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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.
Art
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.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 on us.
- Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
- Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
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 "give them rest."
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 text to Samuel Barber's choral arrangement of his Adagio for Strings.
Agnus Dei is also the name of several other songs, which may not have the traditional words:
- 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 . 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.
- 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.
- A song track from the Sierra videogame series Homeworld
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Gregorian chants of the Roman Mass
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Ordinary: Proper: Accentus:
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Kyrie | Gloria | Credo | Sanctus | Agnus Dei | Ite missa est or Benedicamus Domino Introit | Gradual | Alleluia or Tract | Sequence | Offertory | Communion Collect | Epistle | Gospel | Secret | Preface | Canon | Postcommunion | ||
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