Chant in Latin | English transliteration | Meaning | History
A popular verse for the Roman Catholic Mass, Agnus Dei is sung in praise of God while seeking mercy and deliverance from sins.
Chant in Latin
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
dona nobis pacem.
English transliteration of the chant
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
dona nobis pacem.
Meaning of the chant
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
History of the chant
This chant was introduced in Roman Catholic Mass by Pope Sergius I (687-701). The Agnus Dei was one of the last things to be added to the Mass Ordinary. This chant comes from John 1:29 and is used during communion. Along with other chants like Kyrie, Credo, and Sanctus, this chant is also an integral part of the church service.
Important information about the chant
The chant Agnus Dei has been inserted in many choral and orchestral numbers over the years. Some of the most famous composers like Beethoven, Mozart, and Schumann have used this phrase and added it to their mass compositions. If you are a classical music aficionado, you will surely come across this phrase quite frequently. Johann Sebastian Bach, a renowned musician, used this chant in his most famous work ‘Mass in B Minor.’ This was believed to be one of the last pieces that he added to his final vocal compositions. A contemporary composer named Samuel Barber also used this phrase for a song called ‘Adagio for Strings’.
