On November 10, 1926, in Monson-Bern, France, a boy was born who would one day become one of the most respected biblical scholars and missionaries in Asia. Lucien Legrand entered the Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP) at the age of 18, just as the Second World War was ending.
He completed his seminary studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris, pursued theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, and earned a licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. On June 29, 1950, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, he was ordained a priest.
A Missionary in India
In 1953, Fr. Legrand arrived in India, beginning a missionary journey that would last more than six decades. After brief service in the Salem Diocese, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, he was assigned to St. Peter’s Seminary in Bangaluru in 1955. From then until today, he has been a steady, formative presence in the institution.
Generations of seminarians have passed through his classroom, absorbed his lectures, studied his writings, and carried his spirit into parishes, schools, and dioceses across India and beyond. Those who once sat at his feet, drinking from his wisdom, are now pastors, professors, and bishops themselves. Through them, his influence stretches to at least seven generations of the Indian Church.
Scholarship Rooted in Faith
Fr. Legrand’s scholarship was never confined to academic ivory towers. His life was a seamless weaving of study, pastoral service, and humble witness.
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A voice in Rome: From 1973 to 1978, he served on the Pontifical Biblical Commission, appointed by Pope Paul VI. At a time when post-conciliar biblical studies were shaping Catholic thought, he brought the fresh perspective of Asia into the Church’s universal reflection on Scripture.
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A Marian scholar: His doctoral research, completed in 1979, focused on the Annunciation to Mary. For him, Mary’s “yes” was not simply a moment in history but a model for every Christian vocation.
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A pastor at heart: Alongside scholarship, he served as parish priest in Marian and Christupalayam (then part of the Diocese of Salem) Parishioners recall his clarity in preaching and his simplicity in living, traits that made him approachable to the poor and to seekers alike.
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Teacher of generations: For nearly 70 years, he taught at St. Peter’s Seminary and beyond, mentoring doctoral candidates, guiding future teachers, and lecturing across India. His students, scattered across dioceses and religious congregations, carry his mark.
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Prolific writer: His books, Unity and Plurality: Mission in the Bible, Paul and the Missionary Strategy of the Apostolic Churches, The Word is Near You, and The Power of His Resurrection, remain classics of biblical theology. He also enriched India’s biblical scholarship with countless articles, translations, and reflections in both French and English.
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Builder of institutions: At St. Peter’s, he strengthened the library and founded the Bible Museum, creating one of Asia’s best resources for Scripture studies.
A Life of Simplicity and Depth
Despite his stature as one of the great Catholic scholars of the 20th and 21st centuries, Fr. Legrand remained a man of deep humility. He never sought positions of power or honor; his authority flowed from his holiness, wisdom, and compassion.
Those who lived with him testify to his daily rhythm of prayer, his tireless study even in old age, and his deep compassion for the suffering world. He embodied four great pillars of priestly life: prayer, hard work, humility, and compassion. His scholarship was not for prestige but for service. His greatness was hidden in small gestures: encouraging a struggling student, treasuring old dissertations simply because they belonged to his students, or apologizing with sincerity after a brief moment of irritation.
A Tree by the Streams of Water
Like the psalmist’s image of a tree planted by streams of water (Ps 1:2–3), Fr. Legrand’s life bore abundant fruit. His roots went deep into Scripture. His branches spread across India. His fruit is visible in thousands of priests, religious, and lay leaders. And his spirit remains evergreen, youthful, and fresh.
A Marian Heart
That his doctorate was on the Annunciation was no accident. Fr. Legrand lived with a Marian heart: pondering the Word in prayer, saying “yes” to God’s will in missionary service, and embodying Mary’s humility. To his students, he revealed Mary not only as the Mother of Jesus but also as the first hearer and doer of the Word.
A Teacher, Father, and Friend
For the Indian Church, Fr. Lucien Legrand is more than a scholar. He is remembered as:
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A teacher who became family,
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A scholar who became a servant,
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A foreigner who became more Indian than many,
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A priest who became a father.
Through his teaching, writing, and witness, Fr. Legrand has given the Church in India a treasure beyond measure: a love for the Word of God. Like St. Jerome, he believed that “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” His lifelong mission was to make Scripture known, loved, and lived.
And so, with gratitude, generations of students, colleagues, and faithful can say: “Thank you, Father Legrand. We honor you, we rejoice in you, and we love you.”
(Bishop Rayappan Arulselvam of the Diocese of Salem, India, is a former student and colleague of Fr. Lucien Legrand, MEP, at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Bengaluru. This is the edited version of his felicitation speech delivered in honor of Fr. Legrand on the golden jubilee celebration of the Institute on 17 September 2025.)
