Easter Wednesday

The Hebrew word Pasch signifies 'passage'. The early Fathers of the Church have another meaning for this word, and this will pertain to the real PASCH, which is our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. The Pasch is the passage of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. These three events really happened on the same day in history: the banquet of the lamb, the death of the first-born of the Egyptians, and the departure from Egypt.

They had to pass through water to reach their destination, as we go through Baptism to reach ours. The death of the first-born, for us anyway, is when we leave sin behind and become Christians. These aren't just coincidences, people.

Anyway, today we hear about the Apostles fishing and catching nothing. Then Jesus appears on the seashore, are He tells them to cast their nets again. This time, they catch a great amount of fish. Interestingly enough, at least to me, is the number of fish they hauled in. Scripture tells us the number was 153. (I can't think about why this number was inserted into scripture, why it is so important, and then it hit me years ago: It is the exact number of 'Aves', or 'Hail Marys', in the entire Rosary, when 15 decades are recited. Coincidence? I think NOT! Our Lady is intrepid when seeking out future believers, and she will reel in those are not yet within the boat, as I was at one time.)



The Wednesday of Easter week is also the day set apart, at Rome, for the blessing of the 'Agnus Dei'. Traces of this ceremony date back to the 7th century, so it's not just another gimmick. I happen to have a couple of these, which were blessed by Pope Pius XII.

Agnus Dei is Latin for "Lamb of God", it is also the name of one of the oldest sacramentals of the church. It is a small disc of wax stamped with a lamb which represents Our Lord and victim. Sometimes the Lamb is shown with a halo and a cross or a pennon( a streamer). The wax is taken from Paschal candles or candles blessed by the Pope on Candlemas Day. The Pope solemnly blesses them on Wednesday of Holy Week in the first and every subsequent seventh year of his reign...In the prayers of the blessing, the dangers of fire, flood, storm, plague and childbirth are referred to.

This sacramental is sometimes worn about the neck, much like we would wear a medal, and is used as a reminder to seek God's protection in times of trouble. As the blood of the Lamb in the old testament protected each household from the destroying angel, the purpose of these sacramentals is to protect those who use them from all malign influences. The efficacy of this sacramental is not, of course, from the wax, the balsam, or the chrism, the efficacy of the 'Agnus Dei' is from the blessing of the church and the merits of the "Lamb of God", Who takes away the sins of the world.

Although its origin is shrouded in the mist of antiquity, the sacramental 'Agnus Dei' is first mentioned in historical Church accounts as early as the sixth century, and referred to frequently by the early to middle ninth century. Thus, for over ten centuries the 'Agnus Dei' has been a popular and treasured sacramental to Catholics, especially to those living in Europe where it was most easily obtained. Yet, regrettably, few Catholics living today have ever even heard of the 'Agnus Dei'.

The name "Agnus Dei" was given to special discs of wax impressed with the figure of a lamb, the "Lamb of God" which were blessed by the reigning Pope in a ceremony so solemn that the Pope was said to consecrate the sacramentals. Popes traditionally consecrated 'Agnus Deis' only during the first year of their pontificate and again every seven years.

In earlier times, on Holy Saturday, the Pope, with the assistance of the Archdeacon of Rome, prepared the wax from the previous year's paschal candles, adding both chrism and balsam to the wax. The 'Agnus Deis' were subsequently consecrated on the Wednesday of Easter week and distributed on Saturday of the same week. In more recent times, the wax was prepared by monks and then consecrated by the Pope and distributed. When visiting Cardinals would visit the Holy Father, an 'Agnus Dei' wax disc (or several of the discs) would be placed into his miter. The Cardinals then distributed the 'Agnus Deis' as they saw fit.


As in the paschal candle, the wax typifies the virgin Flesh of Christ, the cross associated with the lamb suggests the idea of a victim offered in sacrifice, and as the blood of the paschal lamb of old protected each household from the destroying angel, so the purpose of these consecrated medallions is to protect those who wear or possess them from all malign influences. In the prayers of blessing, special mention is made of the perils from storm and pestilence, from fire and flood, and also of the dangers to which women are exposed in childbirth. Miraculous effects have been believed to follow the use of these objects of piety. Fires are said to have been extinguished, and floods stayed.

In a wonderful article by Charles Hugo Doyle, entitled "The Forgotten Sacramental," the author provides a summary of the special virtues of the 'Agnus Dei', as cited by Popes Urban V, Paul II, Julius III, Sixtus V and Benedict XIV, which include the following benefits:

They foster piety, banish tepidity, preserve from vice and dispose to virtue.

They cancel venial sins and purify from the stain left by grievous sin after it has been remitted in the Sacrament of Penance.

They banish evil spirits, deliver from temptation and preserve from eternal ruin.

They are a protection from a sudden and unprovided death.

They dispel fears occasioned by evil spirits. They are a protection in combat, and have power to ensure victory.

They deliver from poison and from the snares of the wicked.

They are excellent preventatives against sickness and are also an efficacious remedy -- especially in cases of epilepsy. They hinder the ravages of pestilence, of epidemics and infectious diseases.

They quiet the winds, dissipate hurricanes, calm whirlwinds, and keep away tempests.

They save from shipwreck and the danger of lightning and floods.

It is said that Pope St. Pius V, who had recourse to this expedient sacramental when the river Tiber was in flood stage and seemed likely to submerge the city. We are told that when an 'Agnus Dei' had been thrown into the river, the angry waters at once subsided.

Needless to say, due to the limited quantity of the 'Agnus Deis' which were available, those which could be obtained were cherished by the faithful and gratefully passed down from generation to generation.

Sad to say: The End Of An Ancient Tradition has come upon us.

Elected to the Chair of Peter in the latter half of 1963, Pope Paul VI is said to have consecrated 'Agnus Deis' in the traditional manner during the Easter season of 1964. According to the ancient tradition, Pope Paul VI could have again consecrated the 'Agnus Deis' during the Easter season of 1971 - inexplicably, he did not. Nor did he ever again consecrate the 'Agnus Deis'. Pope John Paul I, of course, was Supreme Pontiff for only 33 days - and did not consecrate any 'Agnus Deis'.

Pope John Paul II, closing in on his 20th year as Pope, did not reestablish the 'Agnus Dei' tradition. As is the case with so much of traditional Catholicism subsequent to Vatican Council II, the 'Agnus Dei' was abandoned, probably "in the spirit of the Council" -- just when it became apparent that the sacramental was truly needed.

To the best of our knowledge, no official reason has ever been given by Rome as to why the ancient and revered traditional practice was abandoned.

Let's pray that the current Holy Father will resume the renew the ancient and wonderful 'Agnus Dei' sacramental.

He needs our prayers every day.