AGNUS DEI

When we prepare for Communion, the "Agnus Dei" centers our focus on the breaking of the bread and the mercy of Christ. Emma Atuanya’s setting of this ancient Latin text brings a gentle but urgent rhythm to that moment in the Mass. Instead of a single call, the choir repeats the invocation "Agnus Dei" three times in quick succession before completing the phrase, creating a feeling of earnest, heartfelt pleading.

As the piece moves into its final section, the mood shifts toward a deep longing for peace. The concluding "dona nobis pacem" is repeated over and over across the voice parts, allowing the harmony to swell and then settle. It is a wonderful way to lead the congregation into the quiet reverence of Communion, leaving the church with a lingering sense of spiritual calm.