Saint Arnold Janssen

Founder of the Congregation of the Word of God

He was born on November 5, 1837 in Goch in the Prussian Rhineland province, near the German-Dutch border. In 1844, he started studying at the local primary school. Four years later, however, a secondary school was opened in Goch, where more talented boys could continue their education. Young Arnold also started attending there.

After only a year and a half of secondary school education, in September 1849 he went to Gaesdonck, where a seminary for boys with higher secondary school grades was founded in a former Augustinian monastery. He passed the entrance exam successfully, but later his shortcomings turned out to be so great that he had to repeat the year. Apart from that, his studies were going well. He discovered his passion for mathematics. In languages that suited him less well, he overcame difficulties only through great diligence.

In 1855 he went to Münster, where he passed his high school leaving examination. He now wanted to study theology, but since he was not yet eighteen years old and the diocese of Münster had a sufficient number of priests, Bishop Müller allowed him to study mathematics. And so, since autumn this year, he has been attending lectures at the Royal Academy in Münster. Around Easter 1857 he moves to Bonn. In May 1859, he took the exams for a higher teaching rank, which he passed successfully. He attends theology lectures in Bonn for two more months, and then moves to the seminary in Münster. On August 15, 1861, he was ordained a priest.

After ordination, he immediately started working at the junior high school in Bocholt. He teaches lower classes with 24 lessons a week. He teaches mathematics, Latin, German, French, geography and calligraphy. In the meantime, he also works as a vicar in Bocholt. He also published brochures promoting the Apostleship of Prayer, so in 1869 he was appointed its diocesan director. In 1873 he moved to Kempen, where he became a pastor and teacher at the high school of the Ursuline Sisters. There, he began publishing a monthly magazine called “Mały Posłaniec Serca Jesusowego”, which was intended to help spread the missionary idea. The letter promoted internal missions, but also pointed to the role and need for external missions, pastoral service among emigrants in the USA and the importance of missionary work among pagans.

At that time, the idea of building the first German missionary seminary, following the example of France, England and Italy, was maturing. Arnold, however, only wants to be the initiator and possibly seek money. But a meeting with Monsignor Raimondi, apostolic prefect from Hong Kong, on a journey to recruit people for the Chinese missions, radically changes his view. And so a specific plan is born. Due to the spreading Kulturkampf, only the Netherlands is considered, and more precisely the diocese of Roermond, close to the border.

In this way, the inn in Steyl, next to the ferry port on the Meuse, becomes the beginning of a new missionary work. The mission house is consecrated on the feast of the birth of the Virgin Mary – September 8, 1875 . Initially, it functions only as a house preparing priests to go on missions. However, it quickly turns out that the community is missing something – it needs a unifying and at the same time stimulating factor. In this way, on June 15, 1876, the Statutes of the Mission House were signed, and Arnold Janssen and Jan Anzer took their first monastic vows – chastity, poverty and obedience.

In 1885, Arnold was elected Superior General of the Congregation for life. December 7, 1889 – Arnold Janssen brings four servants, who had been helping the Sisters of Divine Providence, to a house abandoned by French Capuchins returning to their homeland. The next day they begin their postulancy to become missionary sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit . Exactly seven years later – on December 8, 1896 – the cloistered branch of missionary sisters was inaugurated: the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration. In 1907, Arnold Janssen became increasingly ill, mainly due to diabetes. On October 30, 1908, he suffered his first attack of apoplexy: his right hand stopped working. He can no longer celebrate Mass on All Saints’ Day. He goes to his Father’s house on Friday morning, January 15, 1909.

He was beatified on October 19, 1975 in Rome. The ceremonial canonization was performed by the Holy Father John Paul II on October 5, 2003 in Rome.

Liturgical commemoration

15th January

Mass Text

Liturgy of Hours

Prayer for the feast of St. Arnold Janssen

Heavenly Father, God of goodness and mercy. Give us deep piety and zeal so that we can fulfill all the desires of the Heart of Jesus.

Give us the grace to surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love and light, as Saint did before us. Father Arnold.

Most Holy Trinity, for Your greater honor and glory, grant us, through the intercession of our Holy One, the graces we ask for.

Saint Arnold, our Founder and Father, grant us that, following in Your footsteps, with words and lives, we may contribute to the fact that before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief disappear, and the Heart of Jesus lives in the hearts of people.

Amen.

More About Saint Arnold Janssen

Arnold Janssen. Person(PDF)

Arnold Janssen. Work(PDF)

Arnold Janssen. Spiriturality(PDF)

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