Peter Soemer

Peter Soemer (born August 12, 1832 in Elspe ; † October 4, 1902 in Büderich ) was a German theologian and poet .

Peter Soemer's grave in Werl-Büderich

Life

Peter Soemer was born on August 12, 1832, the fifth child of Jodokus Soemer and his wife Klara, née Böhmer. His place of birth is Elspe in the Sauerland . There, on today's B55, was his former birthplace, the medieval Soemer farm , until 1979 . Peter Soemer spent his childhood at home on Koblenz-Mindener Heerstraße (Heerweg). In keeping with the times, he probably had a carefree childhood and youth. Peter helped out on the farm's fields and in his father's locksmith's workshop. Peter Soemer grew up in the sheltered Sauerland village, heard the stories of his ancestors and discovered his love for faith. His pastor, Hengstebeck, supported the enthusiastic and talented young man.

After his secondary school time in Brilon and Paderborn he studied in Münster and Paderborn theology . During the semester break, Soemer was always drawn to his home country. There he met regularly in the “casino”, the Gasthof zur Post, for a twilight drink with the local clergy, the doctor, pharmacist, the teachers and other respected citizens for discussion and suggestions. Foreign guests were also not uncommon in this group. On August 18, 1859 , Peter Soemer was ordained a priest in Paderborn from the confessional bishop Konrad Martin .

He got his first job as chaplain for a short time in Bielefeld , from where he moved to Grevenstein . Soemer stayed there until autumn 1869 . In October of the same year he was transferred to Büderich near Werl , where he lived until his death on October 4, 1902.

Even in his youth, Soemer wrote poems , sagas and hymns . One of his first works was his writing “Songs, Romances and Proverbs”. This work was published as early as 1867 . He achieved great popularity through stories from Attendorn , Olpe , Bilstein, Kohlhagen, Dörnschlade, Wenkhausen and Lenhausen.

In the last years of his life, Peter Soemer studied medieval poetry . He translated texts from Latin , Spanish and French . Today the song "The king's banner billows up ..." is known from the Latin hymn Vexilla regis .

Soemer's best-known work is probably the Hageröschen . His book The Church Year stands out as a spiritual work , in which he wrote his own texts and verses at different times and festivals of the church year. Some of his songs are still in liturgical use today. In Hamm they sing the Agnes song and in Elspe the Jakobus song.

Works (selection)

• Songs, romances and sayings. from Schilgen. Arnsberg 1867.
• Hageröschen from the Duchy of Westphalia . Bonifacius printing works, Paderborn 1892.
• Legends. Poems , 1896.

Web links

• Peter Soemer in the Lexicon of Westphalian Authors