Saint Arnold Janssen
Saint Arnold Janssen (born November 5, 1837 AD in Goch, Rhineland, Germany; died January 15, 1909 AD in Steyl, Netherlands) was a German Catholic priest who founded the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD — Societas Verbi Divini), the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), and the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP). He was one of the most prolific founders of Catholic missionary organizations in the 19th century. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2003. His feast day is January 15.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Arnold Janssen
| Saint Arnold Janssen | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 15 |
| Profession | Diocesan priest; founder of the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP; missionary organizer; publisher and journalist; missiologist; teacher (before founding the SVD) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Society of the Divine Word (SVD); 19th–20th century Catholic missionary movement; German Catholic tradition; Steyl mission family |
| Patronage | Missionaries; mission societies; Catholic publishers; those who evangelize through media; Germany; SVD worldwide; Steyl |
| Attributes | Priestly or SVD habit; printing press or book (his use of media); a globe (worldwide mission); SVD logo or cross; the Steyl mission house; a missionary setting |
| Birthplace | Goch, Rhineland, Germany |
| Death Place | Steyl, Limburg, Netherlands |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died January 15, 1909 AD, in Steyl, Netherlands, at the motherhouse of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD); he was 71 years old; he had founded three religious congregations and built one of the largest Catholic missionary enterprises of the 19th–20th century; he died peacefully at the institution he had founded; he was beatified 1975, canonized 2003 |
| Primary Shrine | Mission House Saint Michael, Steyl, Netherlands — his tomb; January 15 feast; motherhouse of the SVD; major pilgrimage for SVD and SSpS members worldwide |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); January 15; Feast in SVD congregations and Germany |
| Historic Class | Not in pre-2003 calendar; January 15 since canonization |
Biography
Arnold Janssen was born November 5, 1837, in Goch, Rhineland, Germany, one of ten children. He was ordained a priest in 1861 and became a teacher and parish priest. He was deeply convinced of the need for organized Catholic foreign missions.
Unable to found a mission society in Germany during the Kulturkampf, he crossed the border and established the Mission House Saint Michael in Steyl, Netherlands, on September 8, 1875. This was the foundation of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).
From Steyl he built one of the most prolific Catholic missionary enterprises of the 19th century. He sent missionaries first to China (1879), then to Argentina, Chile, Togo, New Guinea, the Philippines, Japan, and many more countries.
He founded two women's congregations: the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (1889) and the Missionary Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (1896).
He died January 15, 1909, in Steyl. The SVD today has approximately 10,000 members in over 80 countries, making it one of the largest Catholic missionary orders in the world. He was beatified 1975 and canonized 2003.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Goch, Rhineland, Germany
Death location: Steyl, Limburg, Netherlands
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Parishes
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Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| His Work Led to 6,000 Active Missionaries | St. Arnold Janssen | Under 5 minutes | Good Catholic |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Mission House Saint Michael, Steyl, Netherlands — his tomb; January 15 feast; SVD motherhouse.
Feast day
January 15
Veneration
Saint Arnold Janssen was the German priest who founded the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in Steyl in 1875, driven across the border by Bismarck's Kulturkampf. He built one of the world's largest Catholic missionary orders (10,000 members in 80+ countries) and two women's congregations. Canonized 2003. Feast January 15.
Prayers
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