#easteride

℣. Alleluia. Christ is risen. ℟. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.

Sing unto the Lord, for he hath done excellent things, this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. — Antiphon on the Magnificat

℣. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia. ℟. The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.

Agnus Dei of Pius IX

These were cylinders or small disks of wax that were created by melting the previous year’s Easter candles of Rome’s Churches. This took place at the beginning of Lent each year. They were put in a big cauldron and melted. From them, small disks of wax were created with a picture of the Lamb of God on them. Sometimes a Saint was put on the other side of the disk. The Pope’s name and sometimes his Coat of Arms was included as well as the year.  Chrism oil was also poured into the cauldron. The Pope, then, blessed them. They were given as Sacramentals to pilgrims to Rome. Pilgrims experienced, then, a connection to the paschal candle, to the chrism oil and to the Pope himself.