Lucien Deiss

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]

The Reverend Lucien Deiss CsSp
Born	2 September 1921 Eschbach, France
Died	9 October 2007 Bicêtre Hospital,[1] Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
Occupation(s)	Priest, professor, composer

Biography

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

Musical compositions

Italian:

• Donaci, Signor, un cuore nuovo
• Popolo regale
• Terra tutta, da' lode a Dio
• Un solo Signore
• Alleluia, la tua parola

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

• 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.