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....
Saturday, February 16, 2008
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