Fr. Valan Svd Presents LIFE OF ST.ARNOLD JANSSEN vol-306

Summary

Arnold Janssen, born in 1837 in Germany, was a priest and founder of the Divine Word Missionaries, dedicated to awakening the missionary spirit in the German Church. Despite harsh restrictions on religious growth under Bismarck's rule, Janssen founded the Mission House in 1875. The congregation included priests, brothers, and women, leading to the establishment of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSPs) in 1889. Janssen emphasized divine guidance and support, and after his death in 1919, he was beatified in 1975 and canonized in 2003. Today, over 6,000 missionaries continue his work in 73 countries.

Takeaways

• 📜 Father Arnold Janssen was born in 1837 in Germany and was ordained a priest in 1861.
• 🌟 He was named the director for the Apostleship of Prayer due to his devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
• 🌐 He recognized the spiritual needs beyond his diocese and decided to awaken the German Church's missionary responsibility.
• 📰 In 1873, he founded the 'Literal Messenger of the Sacred Heart' to address the lack of German missionaries during the colonial era.
• 🏠 Despite restrictions on church growth under Bismarck's leadership, Janssen proposed sending priests to foreign missions.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Divine Word Missionaries began as a community of priests and brothers, including both men and women from the start.
• 💃 Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk and other women served the community, leading to the foundation of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSPs) in 1889.
• 🕊 In 1896, Father Arnold established a cloistered branch known as the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSPs) to pray for the Church and missionaries.
• 🙏 Janssen viewed himself as an instrument of God, attributing the growth and success of the missions to divine providence rather than his own efforts.
• 🛐 He emphasized the importance of prayer and financial support in the development of the missionary societies.
• 🏆 Father Arnold Janssen was beatified in 1975 and canonized as a saint in 2003, reflecting the enduring impact of his work.
• 🌍 Today, the societies he founded continue to thrive with over 6,000 Divine Word Missionaries active in 73 countries, along with thousands of SSPs and SSPs AP.

Q & A

Who was Arnold Johnson and when was he born?

Arnold Johnson was the founder of the Divine Word Missionaries. He was born on November 5, 1837, in Goch, a small city in Loren land, Germany.

What was Arnold Johnson's initial role within the Church after his ordination?

After his ordination on August 15, 1861, Arnold Johnson was assigned to teach Natural Sciences and mathematics at a secondary school in Bocholt.

What led Arnold Johnson to resign from his teaching post in 1873?

Arnold Johnson developed a deep concern for the universal mission of the Church and the spiritual needs of people beyond his diocese. This prompted him to resign from his teaching post in 1873 to dedicate his life to awakening the missionary responsibility of the German Church.

What significant step did Arnold Johnson take in 1875, and where did it occur?

In 1875, Arnold Johnson inaugurated the Mission House on September 8th in Steyl, Holland, which marked the beginning of the Divine Word Missionaries.

How did Arnold Johnson respond to the challenges faced by the Church in Germany under Chancellor Bismarck's leadership?

During a time of significant restrictions on the growth of the Church in Germany, Arnold Johnson proposed sending priests to foreign missions to support the preparation of missionaries, despite the chaotic situation.

What role did women play in Arnold Johnson's missionary community?

From the beginning, women, including Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk, served the community. Their desire to serve as religious sisters led Arnold Johnson to establish the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) on December 8, 1889.

What was the purpose of the cloistered branch of sisters founded in 1896 by Arnold Johnson?

The cloistered branch, known as the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP), was dedicated to maintaining an uninterrupted adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying day and night for the Church and the two active missionary congregations.

What was Arnold Johnson's perspective on his contributions to the society he founded?

Arnold Johnson viewed himself as an instrument in the hands of God and credited the success of the society to divine providence. He believed that it was the Lord who guided and supported the society's growth and mission.

When did Arnold Johnson die, and what was his legacy at the time of his death?

Arnold Johnson died on January 15, 1919. His legacy included the establishment and growth of the Divine Word Missionaries, which had expanded to more than 6,000 members active in 73 countries.

What was the process of Arnold Johnson's recognition by the Church after his death?

Arnold Johnson was beatified on October 19, 1975, by Pope Paul VI and canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 5, 2003, acknowledging his significant contributions to the Church and missionary work.