AGNUS DEI

Obioha Ogbonna’s "Agnus Dei" is a soulful and reverent setting of the Lamb of God, designed for the fraction rite just before Communion. Written with both English and Latin texts stacked together, it gives choirs the flexibility to sing in either language—or even alternate between them—while maintaining the same gentle, pleading melody. The piece is dedicated to the memory of Late Fidelia Oyinma Ihuoma, adding a layer of personal tribute to its prayerful mood.

The arrangement is straightforward but deeply moving, shifting from the repeated petitions for mercy into a final, calming prayer for peace. In the last section, an optional descant introduces a soaring "Oh Lamb of God" line that floats above the main choir, elevating the final "Dona nobis pacem" (grant us peace). It is a wonderful choice for the Communion rite, helping to quiet the congregation's hearts as they prepare to receive the Eucharist.