Hillenbrand was born on July 19, 1904, in Chicago, Illinois, second among nine children and grandchild of German immigrants in Wisconsin. His parents were George Hillenbrand and Eleanor Schmidt and members of Saint Michael’s parish in Chicago’s Old Town.
Personally recruited by CardinalGeorge Mundelein to attendArchbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, Hillenbrand graduated and matriculated toSaint Mary of the Lake Seminary (Mundelein Seminary), where he founded and edited the school's daily newspaper,The Candle. He was also a member of the school orchestra and choir. He completed a license and doctorate at Saint Mary of the Lake.[7]
In 1929, Hillenbrand was ordained to the priesthood.[7] In 1931, CardinalGeorge Mundelein named Hillenbrand, age 31, rector of Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary.[7]
Named a monsignor, Hillenbrand's three-part approach of faithfully presenting papal teaching, calling lay apostles, and bringing laity through the Catholic liturgy to social action, helped form US Catholic leadership prior to theSecond Vatican Council, which his innovations during theliturgical reforms of Pope Pius XII anticipated.[8]
Hillenbrand Books, published by The Liturgical Institute at theUniversity of Saint Mary of the Lake, in collaboration with Liturgy Training Publications, is a scholarly book series named in Hillenbrand's honor.[11]
A Reynold Hillenbrand Institute was based in Chicago's archdiocesan college seminary from 1992–94, moved to the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, and closed at the approximate time of the founding of the Liturgical Institute there in 2000. A Hillenbrand lecture series continues at the Liturgical Institute.[12]
^"Liturgical Institute: Tidings 1-1". Archived fromthe original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved2006-11-24. Robert L. Tuzik, "The contribution of Msgr. Reynold Hillenbrand (1904–1979) to the Liturgical Movement in the United States: influences and development," doctoral dissertation, University of Notre Dame, 1989
^[1] Robert L. Tuzik,Reynold Hillenbrand: The Reform of the Catholic Liturgy and the Call to Social Action, Hillenbrand Books, 2010
^[2] Keith F. Pecklers, SJ,The Unread Vision: The Liturgical Movement in the United States of America: 1926–1955, Liturgical Press, 1998
^Greeley, Andrew M. (1967-01-01).The Catholic Experience; an Interpretation of the History of American Catholicism. Doubleday. p. 250.
^[3] Mary Irene Zotti,A Time of Awakening: The Young Christian Worker Story in the United States, 1938 to 1970, Loyola, 1991
^Skerrett, Ellen; Kantowicz, Edward R.; Avella, Steven M. (1994-03-01).Catholicism, Chicago Style. Chicago: Loyola University Press.ISBN978-0-8294-0799-0.
^Reynold Hillenbrand, "The Priesthood and the World," In J. E. Haley (Ed.),Apostolic Sanctity in the World: A Symposium on Total Dedication in the World and Secular Institutes, Notre Dame Press, 1957, pp. 26-34
^Frisbie, Margerie (2002-05-01).An Alley in Chicago: The Life and Legacy of Monsignor John Egan (Commemorative ed.). Sheed & Ward.ISBN978-1-58051-121-6.
^[4] Albert J. Schorsch, III, "Msgr. Reynold Hillenbrand: a Reassessment," A paper submitted to the Spring meeting of the American Catholic Historical Association (April 17–18, 2009)
[7] Hillenbrand and the Sacred Liturgy, a memorial website to Reynold Hillenbrand at the Liturgical Institute, Mundelein Seminary, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL
[8] Reynold Hillenbrand papers, University of Notre Dame Archives, South Bend, IN
