Agnus Dei - Can it be changed?

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In reading the Sacramentary, it seems that the ONLY words that can be used for the Agnus Dei are “Lamb of God…” Also, the words must be said AT LEAST three times, and the last time must end in “Grant us Peace.”

Here are two questions: (1) Where is anyone given the right to change the words to, for example, “Lamb of God,” “Prince of Peace,” “King of Kings,” etc.?

(2) If, for argument’s sake, one starts the Agnus Dei with “Lamb of God…” then adds tropes in the middle (e.g., “Prince of Peace,” “King of Kings,” etc.), but ENDS the string with three consecutive “Lamb of Gods…” with the last one ending in “Grant us Peace,” is this acceptable?

I would appreciate citations to authority to support your answers or comments. Thanks and God bless!
 
cjaubert said:
In reading the Sacramentary, it seems that the ONLY words that can be used for the Agnus Dei are “Lamb of God…” Also, the words must be said AT LEAST three times, and the last time must end in “Grant us Peace.”

Here are two questions: (1) Where is anyone given the right to change the words to, for example, “Lamb of God,” “Prince of Peace,” “King of Kings,” etc.?

(2) If, for argument’s sake, one starts the Agnus Dei with “Lamb of God…” then adds tropes in the middle (e.g., “Prince of Peace,” “King of Kings,” etc.), but ENDS the string with three consecutive “Lamb of Gods…” with the last one ending in “Grant us Peace,” is this acceptable?

I would appreciate citations to authority to support your answers or comments. Thanks and God bless!
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The celebrating priest is obligated to insure that the words printed in the official book are read as printed in the manner specified in the Rubrics. Period it’s not optional.
 
Somewhere (and I’m quite sure someone will tell us exactly where) it says that no one, even a priest, may add to, subtract from or change the words of the Mass on his own authority.

That said, the reason that these things are added to the Agnus Dei so frequently is that some of our wonderful composers of music for the Mass have taken it upon themselves to include these additional titles of Jesus in the Lamb of God. The one that comes to mind immediately is the *Mass of Creation *by Marty Haugen.

These compositions are put out by Catholic music publishers, and as we all know (sarcasm alert), if we see it in print, especially from a Catholic publisher, it must be OK!

Betsy
 
This question was asked on CA radio not too long ago and I was so glad because there is a parish in this city that not only includes “prince of peace” and “king of kings,” but also “lord of the dance”! Anyway, the apologist said that if the Agnus Dei is sung, and the words are changed to fit the music, it can be used only if permission has been granted by the Bishop.
 
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter%20III

[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.[71] They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.[72] For as St. Ambrose said, “It is not in herself . . . but in us that the Church is injured. Let us take care so that our own failure may not cause injury to the Church”.[73] Let the Church of God not be injured, then, by Priests who have so solemnly dedicated themselves to the ministry. Indeed, under the Bishop’s authority let them faithfully seek to prevent others as well from committing this type of distortion.
 
No it cannot be done.

Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority. (Sacrosanctum Concilium 22.3)
 
demerzel85 said:
Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority. (Sacrosanctum Concilium 22.3)
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Thanks for the reference. I knew someone would have it.

Betsy
 
blessedtoo said:
This question was asked on CA radio not too long ago and I was so glad because there is a parish in this city that not only includes “prince of peace” and “king of kings,” but also “lord of the dance”! Anyway, the apologist said that if the Agnus Dei is sung, and the words are changed to fit the music, it can be used only if permission has been granted by the Bishop.
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At my local church we sometimes speak the Agnus Dei and sometimes we sing it but in both cases the words are the same (unchanged).
 
Thanks so much for all the help. As I have said before, the teaching of the Church is clear.
 
What is to be done when a church (such as mine) has the cantor (such as me) sing the Agnus Dei that changes the words (such as the Marty Haugen version). Do I protest? This has been done for YEARS! I have been to many churches that sing Lamb of God/Bread of Life/Prince of Peace/Lamb of God.

Sadly,
DS
 
blessedtoo said:
This question was asked on CA radio not too long ago and I was so glad because there is a parish in this city that not only includes “prince of peace” and “king of kings,” but also “lord of the dance”! Anyway, the apologist said that if the Agnus Dei is sung, and the words are changed to fit the music, it can be used only if permission has been granted by the Bishop.
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argh…well, here we go again: “…granted by the Bishop…”. That just about covers everything.

I’ve also seen this abuse in practice. The problem is that choir directors often confuse the celebration of the Mass with a musical performance.

This is the reason BXVI needs to grant the universal indult sooner, rather than later.

-cheers
 
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