Some names of mythical characters serve as frequent reminders of the message of the myth itself or evolve to serve as adjectives for those sharing characteristics of the mythological being. Some names don't achieve this status. The name Midas, the mythical lover of gold and wealth, still names one of wealth. The name Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, though known to some has a significantly less universal recognition.

The above quote sent by R², Ronald Ruemmler with the note, "A², I don't get this joke! Can you help?" serves as evidence that the Christian term Agnus Dei does not call to the mind of one well-informed, and well-educated, atheist, 50ish American male the figure translated in modern English as Lamb of God. The quoted puzzle serves as evidence that another male, Charles Wall, the author of the puzzle, has at least heard some semblance of the phrase.

The 1982 John Pielmeier American play entitled Agnes of God and the 1985 Norman Jewison American movie also entitled Agnes of God serve as evidence that some segment (even if only the authors) of the adult American population has recognition of the name, or the meaning of the name and possibly the myth behind the name.

The word agnus means lamb. The name Agnes, or its derivatives "Agna, Agne, Agneda, Agnella, Agnessa, Agnese, Agneta, Inez, Ines, Inista, [and] Neysa" [Dunne, 5] means lamb. The patron saint of Girl Scouts and girl youth [Dunne, 38 and 40], St. Agnes chose martyrdom, at the age of 12, rather than marry and relinquish her vows of virginity and faithfulness to Christ alone. This is not the Agnes of Agnus Dei.

Lamb together with "dei," meaning "of god," makes Agnus Dei an entirely different from any other agnus. Agnus Dei means the sacrificial Lamb of God, the Son of God, Jesus.

Ag·nus De·I(àg´nes dê¹ì´, än¹y¡s dâ´ê, äg¹n¡s´) noun

1. 1. Lamb of God; Jesus. Also called Paschal Lamb.
2. 2. a. A liturgical prayer to Jesus. b. A musical setting for this prayer. [Late Latin : Latin agnus, lamb + Latin dei, genitive of deus, god.] [American Heritage Dictionary]

Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, identifies the roll Jesus performed when "he died for our sins." The name recalls the mythological act.

For this author, first name Agnes, the phrase Agnes Day calls to mind a 1950s and '60s relic of Roman Catholic upbringing. It resounds of a part of the mass, originally conducted in Latin, in which the priest prompts the believers to appeal to the entity personified as the Lamb of God. In the "Gloria" passage below, the name epitomizes the sacrifice of Jesus.

John, the New Testament author, writes of the sacrificial lamb and used the phrase Lamb of God. Those for whom he writes through sacrificial practices and offerings to the gods and through the Old Testament phrase, Isaiah 53:7, "He [the servant of God] was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter ..." It refers to the biblical identification of Jesus by John the Baptist in John 1:29 - 34. The passage states:

The "Forty Hours Devotion," prompts participation by believers and the acts of verbal response such as the singing of a Christmas Carol or the recitation of the times tables force that spoken aloud into memory. With the congregation's response in italics and the priest's dialogue in regular print, the devotion goes:

The oral recitation of the phrase, "Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world," reinforced and reminded children of the mythological sacrifice of Jesus. When spoken in Latin as Agnus Dei, by those who knew Latin, the phrase had the same effect. Those who knew no Latin heard the words but not necessarily the meaning behind the words. Catholic children of forty years ago heard and repeated the name weekly if not daily. Yet, the Agnus Dei myth does not have the universal recognition of the Midas myth. Who now uses the word agnus in common speech? [Dr. Zimmerman suggests perhaps the AGNUSTICS?] Who now uses the name Midas in common speech? Midas has usage similar to that of Scrooge, Agnes has no such degree of use.

Agnus Dei reminds those who see the Catholic mythology as a religion of the sacrifice of Jesus. The myth serves these, ala Joseph Campbell, to help make meaning of the world. To them the phrase remains Agnus Dei, a very sacred idea. To the now 50ish American adult who chanted the "Gloria," the "Agnus Dei," Agnes Day recalls the memory of the chant and the myth behind it. Agnes Dei speaks of a very special sacrifice, and though an important one to a believer a less important one to a non-believer of Catholicism. Midas speaks of wealth equally well to a Catholic believer or non-believer. Where Midas, and the Midas myth, makes meaning of the world for the general public, Agnes Day, and the Agnus Dei myth, makes a point about sacrifice. To the general public the Midas myth has greater value. We remember Midas but diminish the importance of Agnus Dei for all but the catholic/Christian population. For all Agnes Day becomes only an unfortunate name.

"Agnus Dei," The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition

copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from InfoSoft International, Inc.

Asimov, Isaac, Asimov's Guide to the Bible. New York: Avon Books, 1969.

Dunne, William P., "Is It A Saint's Name?" Integrity

Supply, Chicago, Illinois, 1950.

Halsall, Paul, "Tridentine Mass - 1962 Version", Internet Medieval Source Book.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/latinmass2.html, © 3/96.

"Forty Hours Devotion," Parish Mass Book and Hymnal: Catholic Book

Publishing Co., 1965 New York.

Wall, Charles R. "Ima Hogg Memorial Society." Dell Logic Puzzles.

New York: Dell Magazines, Crosstown Publications, December 1996.