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

Valan Stephen

15 Jan 201810:06

Summary

TLDRArnold 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.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Founding of Divine Word Missionaries

The script narrates the life of Arnold Janssen, the founder of the Divine Word Missionaries. Born in 1837 in Germany, he was ordained a priest in 1861 and taught Natural Sciences and mathematics. His devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus led him to become a director for the Apostleship of Prayer. He recognized the spiritual needs beyond his diocese and decided to awaken the missionary responsibility in the German Church. In 1873, he resigned from teaching and founded the 'literal messenger of the Sacred Heart'. Despite restrictions on church growth in Germany, he proposed sending priests to foreign missions. With the support of bishops, he inaugurated the Mission House in 1875, marking the beginning of the Divine Word missionaries. The congregation included both priests and brothers, and later women as well, leading to the founding of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSPs) in 1889 and a cloistered branch, the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSPs AP), in 1896.

05:01

🙏 Arnold Janssen's Spiritual Legacy

This paragraph discusses Arnold Janssen's view of himself as an instrument of God, emphasizing his belief that the growth and success of the Divine Word Missionaries were due to divine intervention rather than his own efforts. He attributed the awakening of vocations, the faithfulness of individuals, and the provision of financial support to God's will. Janssen passed away in 1919, but his legacy lived on as he was beatified in 1975 and canonized in 2003. The script highlights the growth of the communities he founded, with thousands of missionaries active worldwide. It also mentions the prayers and intercession of Saint Arnold for the missionaries and the continuation of the mission's work.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Arnold Janssen

Arnold Janssen is the founder of the Society of the Divine Word and the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, as well as the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration. He was born in 1837 in Germany and was deeply devoted to religion. His life's work was focused on missionary work and awakening the German Church's missionary responsibility. In the script, he is depicted as a visionary who, despite challenges, established a mission house and congregations that continue to serve the church's universal mission.

💡Missionary Responsibility

Missionary Responsibility refers to the duty of the church to spread the faith and provide spiritual guidance to people beyond its own geographical boundaries. In the context of the video, Arnold Janssen recognized a lack of German missionary activity and decided to dedicate his life to fostering this responsibility within the German Church. His efforts led to the establishment of missionary congregations that work in various countries.

💡Divine Word Missionaries

The Divine Word Missionaries is a congregation founded by Arnold Janssen, which includes both priests and brothers. They are committed to missionary work and spreading the faith globally. The script mentions that they are active in 73 countries, indicating the international scope of their mission.

💡Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit

The Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit, also known as the SSPs, is a congregation founded by Arnold Janssen that includes both men and women. They are dedicated to selfless service in missionary outreach. The script highlights their important role in the church's mission, serving alongside the Divine Word Missionaries.

💡Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration

The Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, or SSPs AP, is a cloistered branch of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit. Their specific mission is to maintain uninterrupted adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and pray for the church and missionaries. This is a unique form of spiritual support for the active missionary work described in the script.

💡Bismarck

Bismarck, referred to in the script, was the Chancellor of Germany during a period of serious restrictions on the growth of the church. His leadership was associated with policies that led to the burning and destruction of churches and religious institutions, creating a challenging environment for religious figures like Arnold Janssen.

💡Apostleship of Prayer

The Apostleship of Prayer is an association within the Catholic Church that promotes prayer, particularly for the needs of the Church and its mission. Arnold Janssen was named a director for this organization, reflecting his commitment to prayer and its importance in supporting the spiritual needs of the church and its mission.

💡Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotion in Catholicism that focuses on the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Arnold Janssen's profound devotion to the Sacred Heart inspired his missionary work and led to his role in the Apostleship of Prayer. The script emphasizes this devotion as a driving force behind his dedication to the church's mission.

💡Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk

Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk is mentioned as one of the women who served the community at the Mission House. Her service, along with other women, was instrumental in the early days of the congregations founded by Janssen. She represents the important role of women in the missionary work and the recognition of their contributions by Janssen.

💡Canonization

Canonization is the process by which the Catholic Church declares a person to be a saint. Arnold Janssen was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2003, which is a testament to his sanctity and the enduring impact of his work. The script highlights this as a significant milestone in recognizing his contributions to the church.

💡Divine Providence

Divine Providence refers to the belief that God guides and provides for the universe and the lives of individuals. Throughout the script, Arnold Janssen's confidence in divine providence is emphasized as a key aspect of his faith and his approach to overcoming challenges in his missionary work.

Highlights

Arnold Johnson, founder and leader, was born in 1837 in Coke, a small city in Loren land, Germany.

Johnson was the second of ten children and was deeply devoted to religion from a young age.

He was ordained a priest on August 15, 1861, for the Diocese of Muenster and later taught Natural Sciences and mathematics in a secondary school in Bogota.

Due to his profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Johnson was named the director of the Apostleship of Prayer.

Johnson gradually developed a deep concern for the universal mission of the Church, leading him to awaken missionary responsibility within the German Church.

In 1873, Johnson resigned from teaching and founded the publication 'The Literal Messenger of the Sacred Heart.'

Despite the challenging restrictions on the Church in Germany under Chancellor Bismarck, Johnson continued to foster missionary efforts.

On September 8, 1875, Johnson inaugurated the Mission House in Steyl, Holland, marking the start of the Divine Word Missionaries.

The new congregation developed as a community of priests and brothers, with both men and women volunteering at the Mission House.

Recognizing the valuable role of women, Johnson founded the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) on December 8, 1889.

In 1896, he formed a cloistered branch of the sisters, known as the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP), to pray for the Church.

Johnson believed that all success in the development of his society came from God, not from his own merit.

He died on January 15, 1919, after a life of hard work, faith, and dedication to missionary service.

Arnold Johnson was beatified on October 19, 1975, and canonized on October 5, 2003, by Pope John Paul II.

Today, the communities he founded have grown significantly, with over 6,000 Divine Word Missionaries active in 73 countries.