These Agnus Dei wax disks are from the pontificates of Popes Clement XIV & Benedict XV.

The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) wax disks were cylinders or small disks of wax that were created by melting the previous year’s Easter candles of Rome’s churches. This took place at the beginning of Lent each year. The wax was melted in a large cauldron to which chrism oil was then added.

From that wax, small disks were created with a picture of the Lamb of God on them.

Sometimes a saint was put on the other side of the disk. The pope’s name and sometimes his coat of arms were included as well as the year.

The pope blessed the wax disks and they were given as sacramentals to pilgrims to Rome. Pilgrims experienced a connection to the paschal candle, to the chrism oil and to the pope himself.