Liturgical Conference, inc.

The Liturgical Conference grew out of a transatlantic Catholic liturgical movement that began in Europe, especially Austria, Germany, Italy, France, and Belgium. Parallel discussions began in the United States among Virgil Michel, Gerald Ellard, Martin B. Hellriegel, and others. The movement took organizational shape with the founding of the Liturgical Conference in 1940 as the Benedictine Liturgical Conference. Originally sponsored and organized by Benedictine monks, the Conference sought to renew monastic life. Through the inclusion of diocesan priests and laity, and the Conference expanded their scope to focus on the renewal of interest in and understanding of the liturgy among all Catholics. The preamble to the Conference Constitution stated: “We desire to lend out aid to the efforts of our Hierarchy in arousing the Christian people to a deeper consciousness of their dignity as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, and of their privilege in uniting themselves with His redeeming Sacrifice by a more active and fruitful participation in the Sacred Mysteries, the primary and indispensable source of the true Christian spirit.” Members of the Liturgical Conference also participated in other organizations advocating for liturgical reform within the Catholic Church, including the International Liturgical Congress, the Vernacular Society, and regional Liturgical Conferences.

Annual Liturgical Week meetings served as the primary means for the Conference to promote the liturgy and lay participation in it. These meetings began in 1940, and increased in attendance and influence through 1968. They included instructional talks and pioneering liturgical practices such as the revived Easter Vigil and commentated Masses. The peak of attendance came around 1964, when the Liturgical Week program included the first High Mass offered in English in the Roman Rite, celebrated by Martin B. Hellriegel, a founding member of the Conference.

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