Lucien Deiss

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The Reverend

Lucien Deiss

Born2 September 1921
Eschbach, France
Died9 October 2007
Occupation(s)Priest, professor, composer

Lucien Deiss, CSSp was a French Catholic priest, biblical scholar, and liturgical composer. He was born in Eschbach, Bas-Rhin, on 2 September 1921, and died on 9 October 2007 at the age of 86.[2]

Biography[edit]

Deiss entered the Congregation of the Holy Ghost in 1942, and was ordained a priest in 1943, both during World War II. He also studied at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Passionate about the Bible and liturgy, for a year he was professor of Holy Scripture at the newly established major seminary of Brazzaville, Congo. Returning to France for health reasons in 1948, he spent decades as a professor and a retiree at the seminary of Chevilly-Larue, which later renamed its library in his honor.[2][3][4]

Deiss composed over 400 pieces of liturgical music, many inspired by Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony with biblical texts.[2] He once described the impetus for his composing career, starting at a small suburban parish in the 1950s: "I realized that the people knew almost nothing of the Bible, so I decided to try using music to help them memorize the more important texts."[1]

Beyond France, some of his works were widely translated and sold over 5 million copies.[2] His Biblical Hymns and Psalms (1965) was one of the first major collections of new music for English-language Masses, responding to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council in which he participated, and earning him an honorary Doctorate in Sacred Music from his congregation's Duquesne University.[5][6] The National Association of Pastoral Musicians named him "Pastoral Musician of the Year" for United States Catholics in 1992.[7] He received a Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros for the 2005 album Ave Maria that he recorded with his Chevilly seminary choir.[8]

Works[edit]

Musical compositions[edit]

French:

  • Souviens-toi de Jésus-Christ
  • L'Esprit de Dieu
  • Terre entière chante ta joie
  • Un seul Seigneur
  • Peuple de prêtres, peuple de rois

English:[9]

  • "All the Earth, Proclaim the Lord"
  • "Grant to Us, O Lord"
  • "Keep in Mind"
  • "My Shepherd Is the Lord"
  • "My Soul Is Longing for Your Peace"
  • "With a Joyful Heart"

Books[edit]

  • Synopse de Matthieu, Marc et Luc, avec les Paralleles de Jean. Desclée de Brouwer, 1963.
  • Biblical Hymns and Psalms. Multiple volumes and publishers, starting 1965.
  • Come, Lord Jesus: Biblical Prayers with Psalms and Scripture Readings. World Library Publications, 1981.
  • La messe: sa célébration expliquée. Desclée de Brouwer, 1989.
  • Joseph, Marie, Jésus. Editions Saint Paul, 1997.
  • La Prière chrétienne des psaumes. Desclée de Brouwer, 2001.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Fox, Mary G. (October 2007). "We Remember a Wonderful Prophet: Lucien Deiss". Rite. 38 (5). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Senèze, Nicolas (11 October 2007). "Le P. Lucien Deiss, missionnaire de la beauté, est mort". La Croix (in French). Archived from the original on 13 October 2007.
  3. ^ Metzger, Robert (2002). "Le Père Lucien Deiss et le renouveau de la liturgie". Mémoire Spiritaine 16 (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2023 – via Bibliothèque Lucien Deiss, Congrégation du Saint-Esprit, Chevilly-Larue, France.
  4. ^ Geoffroy, Olivier (2018–2022). "Le Père Lucien Deiss et le chant liturgique". Musica et Memoria (in French). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Rev. Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp., 1921–2007". World Library Publications. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.
  6. ^ "Lucien Deiss, CSSp". Oregon Catholic Press. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. ^ "NPM Awards". National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros". Qobuz. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Fr Lucien Deiss CSSp, 1921–2007". Wentworthville, Australia: Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2023.