Saint Arnold Janssen - Evangelist, founder of Society
of the Divine Word
Born in Goch, Rhine, Germany, 5 Nov., 1837; died at Steyl,
Holland, 15 Jan., 1909. Arnold was a brilliant student at the University of
Bonn, distinguished in botany and qualified for professorship at 22. At 24 he
was ordained. For 14 years, father Janssen taught science and catechism, was a
chaplain, director and publisher.
In 1870 Germany, Bismarck set up the "Kulturkampf"
to eliminate the church's influence in civil matters. Anti-catholic laws, expulsion,
imprisonment of the clergy, and the closing of religious schools was enacted.
In 1875 Arnold used an old inn at Steyl, Nederland to set up a seminary and start
the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Through his publishing, he was able to
attract German priests for missionary work. The mandate of SVD is to work in areas
where the Gospel has not been preached or the local Church needs support. Early
missionary work concentrated on the Far East, led in China by Joseph
Freinademetz.
Just before Arnold Janssen died he set up an American SVD seminary at Techny,
Illinois to train black candidates for the priesthood.
On October 19, 1975 Pope Paul VI beatified Arnold Janssen; on October 5, 2003 Pope John Paul II canonized him.
Miracles attributed to Saint Arnold Janssen: Pamela Avellanosa,
14 1995 accident victim. After surgery the doctors were certain she would be in
a vegetative state at best. Sheryl Ann Quito,
epileptic for 13 years.
