Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi

Agnus Dei
Published in 56 hymnals

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Representative Text

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.



Source: Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #848

Text Information

First Line: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi
Language: Latin
Notes: Swahili translation: See "Mwana kondoo wa mungu"
Copyright: Public Domain
Liturgical Use: Agnus Dei

English

German

Hmong

Laotian

Latin

Spanish

Vietnamese

Notes

Agnus Dei Qui tollis peccata mundi. The use of this modified form of part of the Gloria in Excelsis (q. v.), founded on John, i. 29, seems to be referred to in the rubric for Easter Eve in the Sacramentary of St. Gelasius, A.D. 492. In the time of Pope Sergius I. [687-701] it was ordered by him to be sung at the Communion of priest and people…Anastatius Bibliothecarius records this in Historia de Vitis Bomanorum Pontificum. It is the opinion of Bona that Pope Sergius ordered it to be sung thrice; Le Brun, on the contrary, thinks it was only sung once. In the 11th century the last clause of its third repetition, "miserere nobis," began to appear as "dona nobis pacem” and a little later in Masses for the dead, the last clause, instead of "dona nobis pacem,” runs as a special prayer for the departed, "dona cis requiem sempiternam." This occurs also in the English Missals of Sarum, York and Hereford, and is the universal custom of the Roman Church at the present day, which also repeats the words, "Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce Qui tollis peccata mundi,” as the priest turns to deliver the sacramental wafer to the people.
According to the Sarum Use the Agnus Dei was incorporated in the Litany, but only to be sung twice, and the third clause is placed first….

Translations in common use:—
0 Lamb of God, that takest away, &c. By G. Moultrie. This metrical arrangement of the Agnus Dei was first published in the Church Times, July 23, 1864, and his Hymns and Lyrics, 1867, p. 118, in 3 stanzas of 5 lines, and in 1872 was transferred to the Hymnary, with slight alterations in the last stanza.

The Agnus Dei has also come into English use through the German, in the following manner:—
(i.) 0 Lamm Gottea unschuldig. By Nicolaus Decius, or Hovesch, first published in Low German in the Geystlyke leder, Rostock, 1531, and in High German in V. Schumann's Gesang-Buch, Leipzig, 1539… It has been much used in Germany at Holy Communion during the distribution of the elements; on Good Friday, at the close of sermon; and on other occasions.

The translations in common use are:—
1. 0 Lamb of God most holy. By A. T. Russell as No. 26 in the Dalston German Hospital Collection, 1848, in 2 stanzas of 7 lines, repeated in his own Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 156, in 3 st. In both cases the stanzas are identical, save in line 7.
2. 0 Lamb of God, most stainless. By Miss Winkworth, as No. 46 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, in 3 st., identical, save in line 7.
3. 0 Lamb of God, most Holy. Once for us sinners dying. By Miss Borthwick, in full from Knapp, contributed as No. 66 to Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864.
4. Lamb of God, without blemish! No. 75, in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, in 3 st., identical, save line 7.
[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
=============================
Agnus Dei, p. 30, i. This is found in a manuscript of the 11th century in the Bibl. Nat. Paris. (Lat. 9433); and in another circa 1200, in the Bodleian (Laud Misc. 4 f. 122). From the German translation "O Lamm Gottes unschuldig," p. 31, i. additional translations into English include:—
1. O Lamb of God unspotted, Whose life . By M. W. Stryker (from Knapp), in his Christian Chorals , 1885.
2. O Lamb of God, Who bleeding. By T. C. Porter, noted on p, 31, i., is in the Cantate Domino, 1859.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Timeline

Media

A Compilation of the Litanies and Vespers Hymns and Anthems as they are sung in the Catholic Church adapted to the voice or organ #121a

Instances

Instances (1 - 36 of 36)
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Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #848

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Catholic Book of Worship III #299G

Flor y Canto (3rd ed.) #96

Flor y Canto (4th ed.) #50

Gather (3rd ed.) #313a

Gather (3rd ed.) #313b

Gather Comprehensive #312

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Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #320

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Iona Abbey Music Book #12

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Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #181

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Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #227

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Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #304

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Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #305

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Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #174

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Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #273

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Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #208

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Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #209

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Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #228

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One in Faith #161

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One in Faith #520

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Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #268

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Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #269

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #345

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RitualSong (2nd ed.) #383

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RitualSong (2nd ed.) #384

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RitualSong (2nd ed.) #488

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RitualSong #375a

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RitualSong #375b

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Singing Our Faith #93

We Celebrate #337

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Wonder, Love, and Praise #872

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Worship (3rd ed.) #337

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Worship (3rd ed.) #353

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Worship (4th ed.) #310

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Worship (4th ed.) #311

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Worship (4th ed.) #385

Include 20 pre-1979 instances
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