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Hear Monsignor Orf Celebrate The Latin Mass

Return to tradition

Hundreds gather at Holy Trinity Catholic Church to observe Springfield's first Latin Mass.

Linda Leicht
News-Leader

Monsignor Raymond Orf stood before the altar at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and uttered the words "In nomine Patris" for the first time in more than 40 years.

The 80-year-old priest celebrated the traditional Latin Mass last Sunday and has agreed to do the same monthly.

"It just hit me this morning," Orf, a priest for 53 years, told the more than 200 people gathered for the first Latin Mass in Springfield. "I am preparing for my first Mass."

For Virginia Smithberg, it was an experience that brought her back to her own first Mass.

"I grew up going to Mass every day in our school," said Smithberg, who lovingly held the Latin missal she used as a student and brought out for the service. "It was kind of like a reconnecting to my early spirituality."

Tridentine Mass

For Roman Catholics, the Latin Mass represents more than an ancient language. It is a form of worship that harks back to the Council of Trent in the 16th century, when the use of Latin was instituted. The Latin Mass is sometimes called the Tridentine Mass in recognition of the council....

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Revival of Latin Mass in Springfield

(The Springfield News Leader) - The servers flanked Orf, on their knees, sometimes placing their heads on the step before them. "Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea ..." — "For thou, O God, art my strength" — they replied.

The prayers continued, a back and forth between the elderly priest and the young servers, all male.

Then, Orf ascended to the altar, lifted his arms up, his palms open, to pray for forgiveness of sins and pure minds. After kissing the altar, he turned around to face the more than 200 people who had attended the historic event.

"Dominus vobiscum," Orf intoned.

"Et cum spiritu tuo," the congregation replied.

"The Lord be with you."

"And with thy spirit."

The voices came from young and old, from women in hats or lace cloths on their heads, from many with bare heads, from those with well-worn missals, many saved from their youth, or those who got a copy of the bright red booklets at the back of the church. Some replied easily from memory. Others stumbled with the unfamiliar language...

...Mike Kramer, 20, who was one of the servers, would prefer to experience the Mass only in Latin.

"Everything in this Mass is completely timeless," he said. "It's from Christian antiquity. If you worship this way, you are worshipping the same way your great-great-grandmother did. In some ways, it's your only connection to them.

"There is a bond there with your entire family tree, that is only accessible through this."

For Sharon Hollars, who attended Sunday with her 84-year-old mother, Lucille Holars, the experience transcended language:

"It's just beautiful."

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A Historic Event - Tridentine Mass Celebrated In Southern Missouri

This last Sunday, Feb. 3rd, Father Joseph Orthel made history by lawfully celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass (Tridentine) for the first time in the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in nearly a generation. It happened at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Stockton Missouri. The following are some photos of the event. More will be added to this post later....

LATIN MASS LOCATIONS & TIMES

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SPRINGFIELD

St. Agnes Cathedral
533 S Jefferson Ave. (website, directions)
phone: (417) 831-3565

Holy Mass
Sunday at 2:30 pm
Eucharistic Adoration at 12:45
Confessions from 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Holy Rosary or Benediction 2:00 pm

Tuesday through Friday at 12:15 pm
with confessions from 11:30 am - 12:00 pm