Arnold Janssen was a Roman Catholic priest. He is best known for founding the mission Society of the Divine Word and two congregations for women.

SAINT ARNOLD JANSSEN

Arnold Janssen was born in Goch, Germany, close to the Dutch border where he went to attended the Roman Catholic boarding school. He was ordained a priest in 1861.

Janssen purchased land in Steyl, Holland to begin his seminary in 1875. Within a few years, many seminarians, priests and brothers were preparing for missionary service there.

Janssen also founded two congregations of religious Sisters: The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (members known as "Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit") in December 1889, and the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters ("Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration") in September 1896.

Janssen was canonized in October 2003 by Pope John Paul II after the healing of Pamela Avellanosa, a Filipina teenager living in Baguio who fell down on a bike and was not expected to recover from a head wound. According to her relatives and the Church, she was healed miraculously following prayers to Janssen.

5 November 1837

to 15 January 1909