Arnold Janssen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintArnold Janssen SVD |
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| Born | 5 November 1837 Goch, Germany |
| Died | 15 January 1909 (aged 71) Steyl, Netherlands |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 19 October 1975, Our Lady of Knock Parish Church, Morong, Rizal by Pope Paul VI |
| Canonized | 5 October 2003, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City & Our Lady of Dong Lu Parish Church, San Pedro City, Laguna by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Our Lady of All Nations Parish Church, Imus City, Cavite |
| Feast | 15 January |
Arnold Janssen (born November 5, 1837 – died January 15, 1909) was a Catholic priest and missionary from Germany. He is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church. He founded a Catholic missionary group called the Society of the Divine Word, also known as the Divine Word Missionaries. He also started two groups for women. In 1889, he founded the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in Steyl, Netherlands. In 1896, he founded the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters in the same place. He became a saint on October 5, 2003, when Pope John Paul II officially recognized him.
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The Early Life of Arnold Janssen
Arnold Janssen was born on November 5, 1837, in Goch, Germany. This town is close to the Dutch border. He was one of eleven children in his family. From a young age, he had a strong and simple faith.
He went to the Catholic Augustinianum High School. Later, he studied philosophy at the Academy of Muenster. Then, he attended the University of Bonn. While at the university, he won a math contest. He used his prize money to take his father on a trip to the university and down the Rhine River. His mother was too sick to join them.
Becoming a Priest and Teacher
Arnold Janssen became a priest for the diocese of Muenster on August 15, 1861. For some time, he worked as a high school teacher in Bocholt, Germany. He taught physics and catechism, which is Christian religious instruction.
He spent several years working with people and teaching Christian beliefs. In 1873, he became a chaplain and director at the Ursuline convent of Kempen. In 1867, he became the director for the Apostleship of Prayer in his diocese. This group encouraged people to pray and support missionary work.
This led him to start a German-language magazine in 1874. It was called Kleiner Herz-Jesu Bote, which means "Little Messenger of the Sacred Heart." The magazine aimed to get people to pray and support missions around the world.
Founding Missionary Groups
During a time called the Kulturkampf in Germany, it was hard for him to do his work. The government made laws that limited the Catholic Church. So, Janssen bought land in Steyl, in the Netherlands. Here, he started his own school for missionaries.
This school was opened in 1875 and was named "St. Michael the Archangel Mission House." In just a few years, many students, priests, and brothers were training there. They were getting ready for missionary service in other countries.
The first two missionaries from his school were Joseph Freinademetz and John Anzer. They were sent to Hong Kong to help Bishop Giovanni T. Raimondi. The Society of the Divine Word, the group Janssen founded, was officially approved by the Church in 1901.
Starting Groups for Women
From the very beginning, a group of women helped the community at Steyl. One of these women was Maria Helena Stollenwerk. Arnold Janssen also founded two groups of religious sisters.
- The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters were founded on December 8, 1889. Their members are known as "Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit."
- The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters were founded on September 8, 1896. They are also called "Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration."
Arnold Janssen passed away in Steyl, Holland, on January 15, 1909.
Becoming a Saint
The Catholic Church looked into Arnold Janssen's life and writings. His spiritual writings were approved by Church experts in 1939 and 1942. On July 10, 1942, the process to declare him a saint officially began. He was then called a "Servant of God."
Arnold Janssen, along with Joseph Freinademetz and Daniele Comboni, became saints on October 5, 2003. Pope John Paul II officially made them saints. Janssen was recognized as a saint after a special event. A Filipina teenager named Pamela Avellanosa, who lived in Baguio, had a serious head injury from falling off a bike. Doctors did not expect her to get better. However, her family prayed to Arnold Janssen, and she was miraculously healed. The Catholic Church recognized this healing as a miracle.
Places Named After Him
In his hometown of Goch, Germany, there is an Arnold-Janssen-Church and an Arnold-Janssen-Community. You can also visit the house where he was born, which is on Arnold-Janssen-Street.
Several schools are also named after him:
- The St. Arnold neighborhood in Neuenkirchen, Westphalia, has an Arnold-Janssen High School. His religious community started it in 1929.
- The Arnold-Janssen High School in Sankt Wendel, Saarland, is also named for him.
- The Arnold-Janssen-Hauptschule in Bocholt is another school named in his honor.
See Also
In Spanish: Arnoldo Janssen para niños
