The Hill Country Hermit

"Ecce Agnus Dei" — Connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament

Ecce Agnus Dei  This "Ecce Agnus Dei" (ETCH-ay AHNG-nyoos DAY) banner is a classic inclusion in windows or paintings of St. John the Baptist. Ecce Agnus Dei is Latin for:  Behold the Lamb of God.  John the Baptist spoke these words twice in the first chapter of John's Gospel as Jesus was approaching (vv.19, 36). Those with John the Baptist—Andrew and another (tradition suggests John, the Gospel Writer) seemed to understand this title for Jesus. Perhaps they immediately understood that John was connecting Jesus to the unblemished lambs sacrificed in Exodus 12. The cross carrying the banner foreshadows Jesus' Crucifixion later on in the Gospel.  St. John the Baptist by Joseph de Figueroa; 1790—Santa Fe de Bogotá, New Granada Bandera Natural History and Art Museum How John knew that Jesus would be sacrificed like a Passover lamb, is as striking as when John—in-utero recognized Jesus—in-utero; when the not-yet-born John leapt in his mother's womb as Mary with her not-yet-born Jesus approached (Luke 1:41). A New Testament Prophet and mystic, indeed! The BookThis book in St. John the Baptist's hand likely symbolizes his knowledge of Old Testament scripture—especially the story of the ten plagues in Egypt—the tenth describing the sacrifice of unblemished lambs to save the Israelite families from the angel of death. Jesus as an Unblemished Lamb Willing to be sacrificed to take away the sins of the world.Note the face of this lamb. As "The Lamb" looks up at his cousin, John the Baptist, he seems calm, trusting, and gentle. Also consider the front bent leg of "The Lamb." It looks almost like a cross itself. The hosts at Secrets of Sacred Art helped me to brainstorm this portrayal; they reminded me that another classic Lamb of God portrayal is with a bent front leg holding a banner and/or cross. It's intriguing to consider ... did the artist decide that a second cross or banner would distract from the painting? Or did he want the bent leg to look somewhat like a cross? Or ...?  A Few Lamb of God with Bent Knee Comparisons: Once I started looking, I saw these Lamb of God images everywhere! If you have a Lamb of God depiction from your church, please e-mail it to me ... I'll add it to the collection! Bandera Natural History and Art Museum St. Stanislaus Church—Bandera, TX All Saints Catholic Church—St. Peters, Missouri Photograph by Nheyob Soroksár—Budapest, Hungary Photograph by Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs San Fernando Cathedral—San Antonio, TX Little Flower Basilica—San Antonio, TX More Detail on the St. John the Baptist painting by Joseph de Figueroa (1790): A Star in St. John the Baptist's Halo?Some resources, mostly Orthodox, call St. John the Baptist a Morning Star, symbolizing how he announced the dawning of the ministry of his cousin, Jesus. It is possible that the small white mark in the center of St. John the Baptist's halo represents this Morning Star analogy. "... the one who is coming after me ...  —John 1:27 John's eyes are worth considering too. In contrast to the trusting, gentle look of The Lamb, John the Baptist's eyes are more serious. Rather than looking at "The Lamb of God," he is gazing out. His eyes seem like those of a mystic. Pondering, meditative, absorbing.  Camel Skin & Red CloakThis portion of the picture shows edges of the camel hair garment worn by John the Baptist. The red cloak symbolizes how he was to be martyred—beheaded by order of Herod Antipas. Blue-ish/Gray-ish BackgroundTake a moment to ponder the background of this painting. Flemish painters often painted backdrop landscapes in blues and grays. This inclusion suggests that the Colonial Spain artist, Joseph de Figueroa, may have been exposed to Flemish artistry.  Some Intriguing ScriptSome heady teamwork and pain-staking computer translating came up with the following translations: Domca. 1a. de Quarma. Inda. Plena. Day of the Lord 1st Sunday of Lent Plenary Indulgence Dominica 9a. Sabado. Indulgencia Day of the Lord (Sunday) 9th Saturday Indulgence  Plena. y se saca alma del Purgatorio. And retrieves the souls from Purgatory. Dominica de Ramos. Indulga Plenara. Palm Sunday Plenary Indulgence Juebes Indulga. Plena. Sabado Inda. Plena. Thursday Plenary Indulgence Saturday Plenary Indulgence Sabado de Pasqua. Indulga. Plena. Holy Saturday Plenary Indulgence Domingo de Espiritu Sto. Inda. Plena. Sunday of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) Plenary Indulgence Joseph de Figueroa, Faciebat — He made it. Abril, ano de 1790. — April, 1790. Joseph de Figueroa's Signature A Piece of the Original Frame New Granada in Colonial SpainJoseph de Figueroa painted St. John the Baptist in Bogotá (then called Santa Fe de Bogotá) in New Granada in Colonial Spain—a city and region now primarily in the South American country of Columbia.  Biblical Novena to St. John the Baptist The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus is the official close of the Christmas season in the Catholic Church. It is a moveable feast that lands on the Sunday after Epiphany; however, if Epiphany lands on January 7 or 8, then The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus is celebrated the following Monday. The Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24. The Feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist is August 29. "Lamb" in the Bible ...