PRIEST
AND RELIGIOUS
FOUNDER OF THE SOCIETY OF THE
DIVINE WORD
AND OF THE MISSIONARY CONGREGATIONS
OF THE
SERVANTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND
SERVANTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF
PERPETUAL ADORATION
(1837 - 1909)
Members
of St. Arnold's Family
Society of the Divine word
(SVD)
Missionary Sisters Servants
of the Holy Spirit (SSpS)
Servants of the Holy Spirit
of Perpetual Adoration (SSpS
AP)
DECREE
ON THE MIRACLE
Blessed
Arnold Janssen was born on November 5, 1837,
in the Diocese of Münster, in Germany.
After his ordination to the priesthood he
dedicated himself to the teaching and the
spread of the devotion to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus and of the missionary spirit among
the German speaking peoples of Europe. Full
of zeal for the Kingdom of God he consecrated
all of his energies to the formation of priests,
sisters and lay people so that he could send
them to evangelize, especially among peoples
who did not know Christ. For this purpose
he founded the Society of the Divine Word
in Steyl, Holland, and the missionary Congregations
of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit
and of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit
of Perpetual Adoration. These Institutes,
wisely guided and formed by their Founder,
grew rapidly and carried on a fruitful apostolate
in various countries. The Blessed, rich in
merits and surrounded by a solid and widespread
reputation for sanctity, fell asleep in the
Lord on January 15, 1909.
On October 19, 1975, during the course
of the Holy Year, the Supreme Pontiff Paul
VI proclaimed him Blessed together with
Blessed Joseph Freinademetz, Priest and
Religious of the Society of the Divine Word,
missionary in China.
