Of Agnus Dei's.

An Agnus Dei (so called from the image of the Lamb of God impressed on the face of it) is made of virgin wax, balsam, and chrism, blessed according to the form prescribed in the Roman ritual. The spiritual efficacy, or virtue of it, is gathered from the prayers that the church makes use of in the blessing of it, which is to preserve him who carries an Agnus Dei, or any particle of it, about him, from any attempts of his spiritual or temporal enemies; from the dangers of fire, of water, of storms and tempests, of thunder and lightning, and from a sudden and unprovided death. It puts the devils to flight, succours women in childbed, takes of past sins, and furnishes us with new grace for the future, the stains away that we may be preserved from all adversities and perils, both in life and death, through the cross and merits of the Lamb, who redeemed and washed us in his blood.

The Pope consecrates the Agnus Dei's the first year of his pontificate, and afterwards every seventh year on Saturday before Low-Sunday, with many solemn ceremonies and devout prayers. Franc. Cost. Lib. 4. Christian Institut. cap. 12.

stance recommends the caution of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who "would not even speak alone with his own mother, for fear of the least danger of offence." "I assure you," says the Virgin, on another occasion," in the sincerity of a mother, that it were better to sleep among serpents, dragons, basilisks, and even the very devils themselves, than to rest one night in mortal sin." Again, "My blessed servant Ignatius gave me one day power over his heart, and I did render it so chaste and strong, that he never after felt any motion of the flesh all his life."

The use of the Agnus Dei is so ancient, that it is now above 960 years since Pope Leo, the third of that name, made a present of one to the emperor Charles the Great, who received it from the hands of his Holiness, as a treasure sent him from heaven, and reverenced it with a singular piety and devotion, as it is recounted in the book intituled, Registr. Sum. Pontif. -Page 375-377.

THE END.

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