Father Deiss dies; was liturgical composer, Vatican II consultant

Published: 2007-10-12

FRANKLIN PARK, Ill. (CNS) -- Holy Ghost Father Lucien Deiss, a liturgical music composer and a liturgical consultant at the Second Vatican Council, died Oct. 9 in his native France. He was 86 years old. A funeral Mass was to be celebrated Oct. 13 at Seminarie des Missiones in Larue, France. News of Father Deiss' death was released by World Library Publications in the Chicago suburb of Franklin Park, which published his earliest works in the United States. World Library once sponsored "Deiss Days" in U.S. dioceses. Pope Paul VI selected Father Deiss to coordinate the Lectionary psalter following Vatican II. Father Deiss' music was in the popular vanguard shortly after permission was granted for Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular in the 1960s. Among his compositions were "All the Earth," "Keep in Mind," "Grant to Us, O Lord" and "Priestly People." His music was among the first in World Library's collection to be made available for digital downloading on iTunes and similar services.

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