The Agnus Dei I mean is an oval medallion, made of white wax from the Easter candle and other candles offered to the Pope by the clergy of Rome on the feast of the candles, mixed with holy oils and blessed water. On the front it has a relief of a Lamb of God lying or standing with the cross and the banner on the Book of the Seven Seals of The Revelations, it might be called the Mystic Lamb, with the inscription around it: "Ecce agnus Dei qui tollis pecata mundi" together with this the name of the Pope who consecrated it, the year and the heraldic emblem of the Pontiff. On the reverse there is a relief of an image of a Saint of Devotion or the Patrons of the Pontiff or the Virgin Mary. By virtue of its consecration, it is a sacramental, what makes these pieces very treasured and appreciated by the believers because of their protective nature, it was so strong this fact that the Popes had to make bulls of excommunication for those who forged the Agnus Dei. The oldest one still preserved dates from the year 1370, consecrated by Pope Gregory XI. But the origin seems to be still even more remote. In the year 510 a so called Ennoldius tells that the Paschal fragments were used as protection against storms and burns. This reference could be the remote origin but the specialists do not ensure it. It is Amalario of Metz in the 11th century at the Carolingian Court the first one to document it. The old "Liber Pontificalis" cites the blessing of the wax, that could well be the blessing of the Agnus Dei. The Ordo Romanus IX, says that the Archdeacon elaborated the Agnus Dei early in the morning on Holy Saturday and that he himself will later distribute during "in Albis" Saturday. Certainly neither is a curiosity of the Paschal liturgy. In fact the symbolism relates the Agnus Dei with the newly baptized. Thus the pontifical of the 14th century says: "During the singing of the Agnus Dei the Pope distributes the wax Agnus Dei to the Cardinals and Prelates by placing them on their Mithras". Then, an acolyte with a silver tray full of Agnus Dei says: "Lord, these are the tender lambs that have announced the Alleluia; they just left the fountains and are radiantly clear." It is also called the Agnus Dei, Holy relic that the Pontiff used to bless on the first year of his pontificate and then again every seven years. At some point in its history it is said that it was the Pope himself who made them, kneading the wax with dust of small bones from the martyrs and the Sacred Chrism. Likewise, it was also coined the phrase "balm and clean wax mixed with chrism make up the Lamb that I give you as a great gift". At some point the Agnus Dei was delivered to the neophytes on the day that they removed their white robes and even to the believers. The Agnus Dei is a clear resonance of the Paschal text of Revelations 5:9: You are worthy of taking the book and opening its seals, because you've been beheaded. In churches that had an Agnus Dei, during "In Albis" Saturday, they used to expose it at the altar with great honour. Origin: The Vatican From the end of the 18th Century. Material wax Length: 11.50 cm Width: 9.50 cm Condition: good condition It has not been restored.