Abstract

An Agnus Dei is an oval or round wax medallion (between 2,5 and 25 cm). It features Paschal Lamb and the inscription reading: Ecce Agnus Dei qui tollit peccata mundi on the obverse, as well as representation of a saint on the reverse. It is signed with the name and in some cases the coat-of-arms of the pope who blessed the medallion. The history of the wax Agnus Dei stared together with the custom of handing pieces of the Paschal candle preserved form the year before to the participants of the Easter liturgy in Roman basilicas. With time, the wax was being formed into plates with the picture of lamb pressed in it. These were given to the pilgrims who came to Rome to celebrate Easter there. The custom is recorded by Amalarius of Metz (d. 850) and Ordo Romanus from the turn of the ninth century. Starting from the 12^th century, the Agnus Dei medallions were handed by the pope himself on the Saturday following Easter. Pope Clement VI (1342-1352) initiated the routine of the popes editing Agnus Dei medallions every 7 years, beginning from their first year in office. From the 15^th century onwards, the popes solemnly blessed the “Agnuses” by immersing them in holy water and saying special prayers. The rite was called “Christening of the Agnus Dei”. A wax medallion featuring the Paschal Lamb and blessed by the pope was considered a panacea for all ailments of the soul and body, as well as a protection against any powerful natural forces and evil spiritual powers. It was treated as a brandeum (substitute relics), since starting from the 16^th century, the wax was mixed with ashes from the Roman catacombs. In order to avoid  any abuse, especially selling of the Agnus Dei, Pope Clement VIII (1592-1605) commissioned the Roman Cistercians from Santa Croce Abbey to make the wax medallions. They were regarded as a special form of the papal gift and a sign of his blessing. Beginning from the 16^th century, the pope, adhering to the rules defined in Caeremoniale Romanum, distributed the “Agnuses” every seven years on the Saturday preceding White Sunday (Dominica in Albis) during the Mass said at the Sistine Chapel by one of the cardinals. Agnus Dei medallions were displayed in reliquaries together with relics, in peace-reliquaries (pacificale, instrumentum pacis), or in the predella of the altar-piece; they were worn as pendants or, exquisitely framed, they were hanged on walls to protect houses; placed in special spheres at the top of spires, they were to protect against lightening striking. The almost entire millennium of the presence of the Agnus Dei medallions in the religious life of Europe began to come to a close with the reform of the Catholic Church initiated at the Vatican Council II. The last of them were blessed and distributed by Pope Paul VI in 1964 in the first year of his pontificate.