www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Question to Latin Catholics

Oval disks of wax blessed by the pope on which the figure of a lamb is stamped. The wax is the remainder of paschal candles and solemnly blessed by the pope on the Thursday after Easter in the first and seventh years of his pontificate. On the reverse side is impressed the coat of arms of the pope. They are sacramentals and were in use as early as the 4th century. They are worn as medals around the neck in leather cases or may be carried in any suitable manner.

The AGNUS DEI is a cake of wax, bearing on it the image of a lamb surmounted by the cross. It is blessed by the Pope, on the Low Sunday (St. Thomas Sunday or the First Sunday after Easter) after his elevation to the See of Peter, and on every seventh Low Sunday (thereafter). The use of it, among the faithful, is very ancient. The blessings attached to the Agnus Dei are enumerated in the prayer of the Pope. "O God, author of all sanctity, Lord and ruler, whose fatherly love and care we ever experience, deign to bless, sanctify, and consecrate, by the invocation of Thy Holy Name, these cakes of wax, stamped with the image of the most innocent Lamb, that, by seeing and touching them, the faithful may be invited to praise Thee; that they may escape the fury of whirlwinds and tempests, and danger from hail and thunder; that the evil spirits may tremble and fly when they behold the standard of the sacred cross impressed on the wax." And he prays that all who devoutly use the Agnus Dei may be freed from pestilence, shipwreck, fire, from the dangers of childbirth, and sudden death. It should be worn devoutly, in the b elief that the prayer of the Vicar of Our Lord avails much. The prayer usually said with it is as follows: "O my Lord Jesus Christ, the true Lamb, that takest away the sins of the world by Thy mercy, which is infinite, pardon my iniquities; and by Thy sacred passion preserve me this day from all sin and evil. I carry with me this holy Agnus Dei in Thy honor, as a preservative against my own weakness, and as an incentive to the practice of meekness, humility, and innocence, which Thou has toaught. I offer myself up to Thee as an entire oblation, and in memory of that sacrifice of live which Thou offerdst for me on the cross, and in satisfaction for my sins. Accept, O my God, the oblation I make, and may it be agreeable to Thee in the odor of sweetness. AMEN."

(from the Pius X library--Handy-Volume Series: The Catholic Church, The Teacher of Mankind, Volume II, New York, 1910, imprimatur 1913)

The editorial additions in parentheses are mine.

In Christ,

BOB

Thanks for the explanations.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Here's a picture of one unfortuately someone is practing simony.


http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPERB-AGNUS-DE...770QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is interesting...and stirs a old memory.

Grazie,
james

I wonder if he is the same person who is selling Third Class Relics of St. Francis of Assisi?

Vie

Dear Friends,

St Alphonsus Liguori's scapular is a miraculous relic - he had the 18 approved scapulars from the various religious orders sewn into one large one and wore it habitually - no pun intended.

This scapular has remained intact - he was buried in it.

I also have a "Blue Scapular." Anyone has information on this one?

Alex

The blue scapular is the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception.

http://www.memorare.com/mary/blindulg.html

http://www.memorare.com/mary/scapulars.html

The above link lists most of the major scapulars.

I used to wear a 5-fold Scapular, that was the one I gave to Private Johnson.

http://www.memorare.com/mary/fivefold.html

I thought I was getting 433 plenary indulgences, but now it appears that that was done away with in 2002.

It seems that to meet the requirements to get the graces from the scapulars, one must perform some devotion every day anyway. So it's not a get out of hell free card. Any one who says 5 decades of the rosary perday or the office of the BVM would have a really good chance not to do the things that would send one to hell in the first place.

Dear Dr. Eric,

Rome granted a number of plenary indulgences to Eastern Catholics e.g. 300 days for saying the Jesus Prayer once and the Akathist to the Passion has the same plenary indulgence as the Stations of the Cross - the Akathist to the Theotokos has the same indulgences as the rosary etc.

I wonder if the "partial indulgences" still apply?

Alex

Interesting but Eastern Rite Catholics dont get the indulgence for the Rosary but do for using their own traditions Marian prayers such as the Akathistos for Byzantines.

ICXC
NIKA

Dear Pavel,

Actually, EC's can get the same indulgences as those Latins for saying the Rosary i.e. partial for reciting a third part and plenary for reciting it in a group, oratory or before the Altar.

It is just that their Churches can assign the same indulgences to other practices, by way of implication, that are more "Eastern."

In fact, the Latin authorities who came up with that rule obviously never read the Lives of either St Seraphim of Sarov or St Seraphim Zvezdinsky, the Holy New Hieromartyr!

And St Tikhon of Zadonsk privately had a tremendous veneration for the Way of the Cross - he had life-size iconic figures of Christ carrying the Cross to Calvary, slightly different from the Western version.

Alex

An interesting note about the "Agnus Dei":
During the Protestant Reformation the Agnus Dei and any sacramental was seen as a sign of "Popish" superstition and was considered high treason. A favorite Saint of mine, Saint Cuthbert Mayne was found wearing an Agnus Dei around his neck in a gold and crystal locket. He was martyred for the Faith and canonized alongside 39 Martyr-Saint Companions.
May we all experience the intercession of St. Cuthbert Mayne and his Companions!
Silouan, old monk

Just read back over this thread...which I had not seen so far.

Thanks, Memo. My father wore a scapular until his death. I respect those who wear them.

But you have confirmed my heart on this.

I appreciate the last part of your post about "love".

Blessings,

Mary Jo

Bless, Father Silouan!

Is it possible to obtain an Agnus Dei today?

Alex

The only place that I believe MAY still have some wax is: covingtoncarmel@aol.com

Discalced Carmelite Nuns
73530 River Road
Covington, LA 70435-2206