Hellriegel, Martin B., 1890-1981

A Catholic priest and author, Martin B. Hellriegel was born in Heppenheim, Germany, in 1890, and came to the United States in 1906. In 1914, he was ordained in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, where he served as chaplain to the Precious Blood Sisters in O'Fallon, Missouri, and then pastor at the Holy Cross Cathedral in St. Louis. Hellriegel became a leader in the liturgical movement, which sought to renew lay congregants' participation in and understanding of the services of worship. To advance this movement, he contributed to Orate Fratres (an American Catholic liturgical review journal later published as Worship), wrote books and hymns, and taught at conferences and other gatherings. He was a founding member of the national Liturgical Conference in 1940. He died in 1981 at the convent in O'Fallon, Missouri, where he had previously served.