Catholic saint biography
St. Arnold Janssen
- Lived:
- 1837–1909 — Germany; foundation in the Netherlands
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Biography
Arnold Janssen taught mathematics and natural sciences after his ordination in 1861. His concern for the wider Church led him to publish news about missionary work and encourage support from German-speaking Catholics. Anti-Catholic laws in Germany shaped the difficult circumstances in which he pursued a new missionary foundation.
In 1875 he opened a mission house in Steyl in the Netherlands, beginning the Society of the Divine Word. The first missionaries left for China in 1879, including Joseph Freinademetz. Printing, lay cooperation, and the participation of religious brothers were important to the undertaking. His later foundations also included women's communities. He died in 1909 and was canonized in 2003.
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What will you carry with you?
After reading about St. Arnold Janssen, take a moment to consider:
- Which event or decision in this life stood out to you?
- What virtue would you like to understand or practice more deeply?
- What small action could you take today in response?
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Sources and further reading
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