“Agnus” means “lamb” and “Dei” means “God.”
When we celebrate the Holy Communion, we think of how our Lord gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. In the Old Testament, a lamb was sacrificed for the sins of the people. No creature can make good for our sins; but Jesus, the true Easter Lamb, to Whom John the Baptist pointed and said, “Behold the Lamb of God,” has taken our sins upon Himself. Now we pray that He will also take our sins from us and give us peace with God, our heavenly Father.
“The Little Service Book” was written by the Rev. Berthold von Schenk (1895-1974), pastor of Our Saviour—New York, as an explanation of the Common Service for children.
