Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace, or so the translators claim. Now I don't know Latin very well, but I did want to make a few comments on this so-called translation of a supposedly inextricably Christian, monotheistic statement. I've said before that the monotheists crushed the polytheists brutally, as a side effect of the creation of the fictional concept of Nation. Some psychological tools they used included songs like the Agnus Dei, something about whining to the one and only God about taking away our flaws and granting us peace. It subconsciously sends the message that we can never find peace by ourselves, so it encourages and spreads the infectious meme I like to call war. So I have some issue with this translation though. I don't know Latin very well, but I do know enough to say this.

Dei. There is no Latin root 'dei'. There is however, a Latin word called 'deus' which means god, as in one god. Like cactus, deus is singular. And like cacti, dei is plural. So forget about this "one god" the Romans were polytheists, and you shouldn't claim there's only one god. More importantly, you shouldn't claim that this song is about the One True 100% Organic Deity.
peccata. Sin? I know in Latin it refers to error, or transgression. I don't think we should translate this as 'sin' because if you think about it sin has taken on a life of its own as a word. A sin isn't just a screwup: people honestly believe it's a deliberate and guilty intention one has against the plans of The Real Slim Goddy. So should we translate peccata as sin, when forgetting to set your alarm could be a peccatus?

If I work on translating it further I'll let you know my opinion how it should be written in English. Samuel Barber wrote a delightful song to these Latin words, and I just love the ideas underneath them. Animals, magic, peace, good stuff. But as for the translation, instead of calling it "Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace" I'd prefer to translate it as, "Lamb of the gods, that fixes the world, bring us peace." It's still not perfect, but at least it's a bit freer of that desperate Christian propaganda designed to foment guilt and war. And maybe it is translated accurately, and my attempts at Latin are false, but if so maybe we should consider singing a different song in Latin, since it's so sinister in its current translation?

Agnus Dei

Journal started Oct 18, 2006