Titles of Christ in the Lamb God

[pilgrimR]

Most of the Mass settings that come out today have a list of different titles for the Lord Jesus that can be used in place of “Lamb of God”. They are used as a litany and are convenient when the breaking of the hosts and pouring of the Precious Blood take longer than it would take to sing just three "Lamb of God"s.

In my parish though, and I suspect in most, the fraction rite doesn’t take any longer than three invocations anyway. That being the case, should we use “Lamb of God” three times or sing “Lamb of God” first, then one of the optional titles and finish with another “Lamb of God”?

How does your parish do it?

How would you do it if you were in charge? Why would you do it that way?

Thanks!

 

[pnewton]

My priest had to intervene with one musician that did several invocations. We now do three. Always. Lamb of God, bread of life and lamb of God.
The only time I can see needing more would be a large setting where the preparation took a long time.

 

[baltobetsy]

Going with the oft-quoted rule that nothing is to be added, subtracted or changed in the Mass, these alternate invocations should not be used at all. The fact that a composer puts them in a musical setting of the Mass is not sufficient to make it correct.

Betsy

 

[deogratias]

These are called tropes and I refuse to sing them. The GIRM says the Agnus Dei may be repeated more than 3 times, as long as it takes for the fraction, but it does not say to add all these Titles. Just another innovation of the Church liturgists…

 

[Annunciata]

pilgrimR:

In my parish though, and I suspect in most, the fraction rite doesn’t take any longer than three invocations anyway. That being the case, should we use “Lamb of God” three times or sing “Lamb of God” first, then one of the optional titles and finish with another “Lamb of God”?

How does your parish do it?

My parish always sings the “Lamb of God” three times and if more time is need, there is just musical accompaniment by either guitar or organ. I’ve never heard of the optional titles?

 

[deogratias]

Lucky you.

 

[muledog]

pnewton:

My priest had to intervene with one musician that did several invocations. We now do three. Always. Lamb of God, bread of life and lamb of God.
The only time I can see needing more would be a large setting where the preparation took a long time.

Actually, the Roman Missal (and it’s accompanying GIRM) are very clear in this matter. Only the words specifically listed in the Missal are authorized for use during the Agnus Dei. I believe a paragraph was even added (#366?) that lists the Agnus Dei as one of the chants where changes are forbidden.

There have been over a dozen official documents, from Sacrosanctum Concillium on down to *Redemptionis Sacramentum, *that have dealt with unauthorized changes to the Mass. Apparently, too many priests and liturgist have either not read or just ignored this teaching throughout the years.

• muledog

P.S. - The Agnus Dei was added to the Roman Rite order of Mass around the 7th century. It was introduced from the east.

Tropes were originally added to the order of Mass around the 10th century in order to make the prayer “proper” for each Sunday/Holyday. Thus, you would have something like this for Mass on Corpus Christi:

Lamb of God, who are the Bread of Life, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who are the true Fruit of the Vine, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who are the Sacrifice for our sins, you take away the sins of the world. Grant us peace.

This is what an actual trope looks like, not what today’s supposed liturgist want to tell you. There is a big difference.

I would suggest looking for the difinitive work on tropes, Tropen des Missale. It’s written in german, but has a lot of latin examples in it as well.

 

[pnewton]

Thank you, mule dog. Most of the versions I have seen of the Lamb of God have multiple titles. I will look into what you have said.