Jan Michael Joncas (born December 21, 1951) is a Catholic priest of the

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

, liturgical theologian, and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

of contemporary Catholic music best known for his hymn "

On Eagle's Wings "On Eagle's Wings" is a devotional hymn composed by Michael Joncas. Its words are based on Psalm 91, Book of Exodus 19, and Gospel of Matthew 13. Joncas wrote the piece in either 1976 or 1979, after he and his friend, Douglas Hall, returned from a ...

Biography

Joncas was raised in Minneapolis, of Polish descent, attending Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and St. John Vianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, earning a bachelor's degree in English there in 1975. Joncas composed the hymn he is best known for, "

", following the death of a friend's father in the late 1970s. It has since been quoted by Joe Biden and covered by Lana Del Rey. He received a Master of Arts degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame in 1978 and went on to study at the

Pontifical Liturgical Institute The Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, located at Sant'Anselmo on the Aventine Hill, promotes the study of the Sacred Liturgy. It is entrusted to the Benedictine Confederation, and has the role of training professors of liturgy and liturgi ...

in Rome, earning both his licentiate and doctorate degrees there. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1980, by

Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

John Roach John Roach may refer to any of the following: *John Roach (shipbuilder) (1816–1887), United States shipbuilder *John Roach (bishop) (1921–2003), bishop of the Catholic Church * John Roach (baseball) (1867–1934), former Major League Baseball pi ...

. Following this, he taught at the University of St. Thomas, at the University of Notre Dame, and summer courses at the Saint John's School of Theology, also serving as a weekend assistant at parishes throughout the Archdiocese. In 2003, Joncas was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome after noticing he lacked the strength to elevate the chalice at Mass. The residual effects of the disorder still prevent him from playing guitar, the instrument on which he composed "On Eagle's Wings". In 2022, Joncas retired from active ministry and teaching but intends to keep writing music.

Discography

* ''Singing In the Light'' (1968) * ''On Eagles' Wings'' (1979; featuring "On Eagle's Wings") * ''Every Stone Shall Cry'' * ''Here In Our Midst'' * ''O Joyful Light'' * ''I Have Loved You'' * ''Praise God in Song'' * ''No Greater Love Mass'' * ''Winter Name of God'' (1988) * ''God of Life and of the Living'' * ''Sing Praise and Thanksgiving'' * ''Come to Me'' * ''Mass for John Carroll'' * ''Psallite Mass'' * ''We Come to Your Feast'' * ''A Voice Cries Out'' * ''As the Deer'' * ''God of Life Be Praised'' * ''In the Sight of Angels'' (2008) * ''Christ Be Near'' (2009). shelter me (2020)

Published Works

* Preaching the Rites of Christian Initiation, Forum Essays 4 (Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 1994). * The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Liturgy and Sacraments (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 1995). * From Sacred Song to Ritual Music: Twentieth Century Understandings of Roman Catholic Worship Music (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1997). * Co-author with Fr. Michael Driscoll, The Order of Mass: A Roman Missal Study Edition and Workbook (Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2011). * Within Our Hearts Be Born. The Michael Joncas Hymnary: Advent and Christmas (Portland, OR: Oregon Catholic Press, 2013) * We Contemplate the Mystery.The Michael Joncas Hymnary: Lent and Triduum (Portland, OR: Oregon Catholic Press, 2015).

References

External links

Oregon Catholic Press: Artists & Events: Artists: Michael Joncas
(biography)
GIA Publications: J. Michael Joncas
(biography)

(biography) * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Joncas, Michael 1951 births American Roman Catholic priests Composers of Christian music Contemporary Catholic liturgical music Living people University of Notre Dame faculty People with Guillain–Barré syndrome Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Biography

Discography

Published Works

See also

References

External links