150 Years of the SVD
-Mission Display-
Life of Arnold Janssen, SVD Foundation
The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) was founded in a small village Steyl in the Netherlands by the German border on September 8, 1875. Its Founder, Fr. Arnold Janssen (1837-1909), an ordinary diocesan priest of a simple and large family came from Goch in the Lower Rhine. He grew up in a deeply religious environment near the Marian Shrine in Kevelaer. His family was imbued with a deep Trinitarian spirituality.
Arnold embraced God’s call to priesthood, and after studies at the minor seminary in Gaesdonck (1849-1855), joined the Collegium Borromaeum in Münster to prepare for ordination to the priesthood, which took place on August 15, 1961. Meanwhile, he also studied natural sciences at the University in Bonn (1857-59), and after ordination, he taught mathematics and natural sciences for 12 years in Bocholt.
Arnold’s involvement in the Apostolate of Prayer was decisive for his missionary development and discovery of the will of God in founding a Mission House for foreign mission. He started a Mission Magazine, The Little Messenger of the Sacred Heart, which along with the printing press, was instrumental in the propagation of his missionary idea. In 1878, the Mission Institute of missionary priests based on the Third Rule of St. Dominic started the Institute of Brothers. They became the driving force in the development of the Institute.
The spiritual dynamic focusing on the Incarnate Word, Sacred Heart, and veneration of the Holy Spirit led him in founding Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) in 1889 and Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (SSpSAP) in 1896. At the time of the Founder’s death on January 15, 1909, the three Congregations had more than 1.800 members. These Congregations later came to be known collectively as the Arnoldus Family. He was canonized as St. Arnold Janssen on October 5, 2003.
Internationality / Interculturality
Internationality is considered a fundamental characteristic of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) as the first three men who joined Arnold’s missionary project in 1875 were from three different nationalities: Germany, Austria and Luxemburg. Already the Founder considered Rome as the appropriate residence for the Society’s headquarters to prevent the danger of nationalism. Significantly, the first two missionaries of Steyl were sent to China—Fr. Johann Baptist Anzer, a German, and Fr. Joseph Freinademetz, an Austrian. The first Rules of the Society strictly prohibited members to “criticize the nationality of a confrere or promote one’s own at the expense of others.”
The formation of missionaries included the knowledge of foreign languages and cultures. It was supported by research in ethnology, religions, and linguistics, which was made available in the Society’s journal Anthropos (1906). After World War I, the Society, in its 5th General Chapter in 1920, decided to start an international college in Rome to strengthen the internal unity of the Society. The new Superior General, Fr. Wilhelm Gier (1920-1932), was a great promoter of this initiative and transferred the Generalate from Steyl to the newly opened international house (Collegio del Verbo Divino) in Rome in 1928. Wherever the Society established itself, it was always ready to accept members from the indigenous population: Afro-Americans (1923), Chinese (1924), and so forth.
In 1960, the Society had members coming from about 35 nationalities with the biggest group being Germans (ca. 40%). Over the years, intercultural communities in the provinces/regions/missions gained importance.
In 2025, confreres are coming from 76 nationalities to nurture the Society, and they are sent to other countries to strengthen the spirit of interculturality. The 2018 General Chapter stated, “Interculturality is part of our DNA.”
Vatican II, Ad Gentes Decree and
SVD New Constitutions
The sweeping changes in the post-Second World War era resulted in a crisis and renewal process in the Church, which also affected the Society. The Society undertook a serious effort to renew with a clear missionary focus and marked its presence in the Aggiornamento (renewal and updating the Church) at the Vatican II Council with 25 SVD Council fathers (24 bishops and the Superior General, Fr. Johann Schütte). Our missionaries welcomed the convocation of the Council and the Society’s bishops voiced their concerns about the development of the local churches—their liturgy, permanent diaconate, etc.
Among the SVDs, a significant role was played by Fr. Johann Schütte, who due to his organizational talent and leadership skills, became the chief architect of the mission decree Ad gentes. He served to cement the forces advocating for a genuine missionary document. After his death in 1971, the L’Osservatore Romano wrote that “everyone who is concerned about the missions and thus about the essence of the Church must be grateful to Fr. Schütte.” Fr. Ralph Wiltgen founded and directed a widely read the Council’s News Service available in nine languages. He also authored The Rhine Flows Into the Tiber, an unbiased, engaging, and widely popular history of Vatican II, which has been translated into many languages.
Then, the Society embarked on a long process of internal renewal, concluded by the approval of the new Constitutions with more theological, biblical, and spiritual emphasis on October 19, 1983. The Constitutions were elaborated in a long process of searching and experimentation in the spirit of the post-conciliar reform and renewal starting in 1963.
This process concluded with the updated reformulation of the religious and missionary identity of the Society, primarily identifying three key areas:
- to proclaim the Word of God to all;
- to raise up new communities of the People of God;
- to promote the communion and union of all churches.
The 1983 Constitutions emphasized the Society’s Trinitarian mission spirituality, broadened missionary understanding, and called for their implementation.
New Directions
After having a well-formulated constitution, the main challenge for the Society was the need for an updated interpretation of the Founder’s charism and a new understanding of mission in a rapidly changing world. There was a movement away from the overly Church-centered paradigm of mission to one that was Kingdom-centered. The new missionary challenges had to be reflected deeply and encapsulated within an attractive formula to mobilize the SVD grassroots. During Fr. Heinrich Heekeren’s leadership (1977-1988), three major priorities emerged:
- Justice and peace as preferential option for the poor (1982);
- Centrality of the Word of God with the promotion of Biblical Apostolate through the start of Dei Verbum courses in Nemi (1987);
- Promotion of mission spirituality through Arnold Janssen Spirituality Center in Steyl as a joint venture of the Arnoldus Family (1990).
The turning point in 1990 was the Roscommon Agreement in Ireland. The European SVD provincials declared secularized Europe as “mission territory” and called the Generalate for the first assignments from non-European countries, which led to the internationalization of SVDs in Europe.
The new General Superior, Fr. Heinrich Barlage (1988-2000), reassumed the dynamic spiritual model of mission “passing over” to “frontiers”—culture, society, and religious traditions in the local churches.
The General Chapter of 1994 emphasized “Communion” as an essential internal dimension of life in the Society and called for the revival of the “Arnoldus Family” and collaboration with laity. This chapter approved the recently developed Zones—ASPAC, EUROPA, AFRAM, PANAM—to build a more collegial and inculturated Society. Africa became the mission priority of the Society.
Prophetic Dialogue
Towards the turn of the millennium, the recomposition of the internal forces of the Society required an urgent and profound reflection on the SVD identity and mission. At the 2000 General Chapter, the new concept of “prophetic dialogue” emerged with four dialogue partners for mission. The prophetic dialogue was to be implemented through four characteristic dimensions:
- Mission animation,
- Biblical apostolate,
- Justice, peace and integrity of creation,
- Communication.
One of the insights shared by Fr. Antonio Pernia, Superior General (2000-2012), was missio inter gentes as a complement to missio ad gentes. The General Chapter of 2012 presented the challenge of interculturality as a major task for the Society and put emphasis on missio inter gentes. Although the role of SVD lay partners was recognized earlier, in this Chapter, a resolution was passed to promote and work with lay partners in the missions.
The Superior General, Fr. Heinz Kulüke (2012-2018), at the start of his term, chose the motto “Inter Gentes ‒ Putting the Last First” to give direction to the Society’s leadership and administration. The theme of the next 19th General Chapter (2024) calls us to be faithful and creative disciples in a wounded world.
History and Community of Generalate
The headquarters of the Society, its General Curia, moved from the Motherhouse in Steyl to the new, favorably located international house (Collegio del Verbo Divino) in Rome in 1928. The General Archives were also transferred from Steyl to Rome. In the 150 years of history, 12 Superiors General led the Society with the support of the General Council. The founder had many secretaries (1886-1909), and his successor initiated the office of a General Secretary, Fr. Johannes Weig (1909-1920). The number of members of the Generalate expanded with the growth of the Society. New offices were created: Procurator General (1910), Treasurer General (1944), General Mission Secretary (1955), Director of Studies at Generalate (1958), Department for Social Communications (1967), and later two coordinators of Justice & Peace (1983) and Bible Apostolate (1993).
Fr. Joseph Grendel, Superior General, took particular interest and care for the good establishment of studies, and thus, founded the Archives Library at Collegio (presently called SVD Authors’ Library). For over 30 years, the Superior General also served as the rector of the Collegio but delegated a confrere to manage house affairs. This changed in 1960 when a separate rector, along with his own house council, was appointed. During the hot summer months, the Generalate changed its residence first to Steinhausen/Switzerland (since 1929), then to the central international tertiate in Nemi (since 1962). Under the Superior General, Fr. Alois Groβe Kappenberg, the General Council received an international line-up with German, Dutchman, American, and Pole. In 1995-96, the Collegio went through a major renovation to improve living and working conditions.
The Relics of Saint Arnold Janssen
Founder’s collection of relics stored in five small black boxes in the Founder’s Archive at the Collegio in Rome.
1. Arnold Janssen Relics of First Class of tooth and hairs
There are relics of the first class: Dens et Crines Reverendissimi Patris Arnoldi Janssen Fundatoris Steylensis, that is the relics of Founder’s tooth and hairs. To these relics is attached a special document issued on parchment by the Mission Procurator, Fr. Hermann auf der Heide on 10 December 1928. It testifies in the usual formula:
”We attest that, to the greater glory of Almighty God and the veneration of His Saints, we have recognized the sacred particles: one tooth and hairs of the Rev. Father Arnold Janssen, the Founder of the Society of the Divine Word, which are placed in a gilded case of a round shape decorated with crystal, tightly closed and tied with a silk cord of red color, sealed with our seal and undersigned by our own hand.” Steyl, die 10. mensis Decembris anni 1928. H. auf der Heide, Proc. Miss.
2. Relics of Rome, Ars and Sancti Arnoldi
The most recent remembrance in Arnold’s collection is the relic Ex capite Sancti Arnoldi Martyris. It is not a relic of his patron, St. Arnold of Arnoldsweiler nearby Düren (celebrated on 18 July, died ca. 800), but of St. Arnold martyr, who by then was unknown to the Bollandists.
The relic is identified by means of a small paper titulus, bearing the words Ex capite… The relic in the interfold white squared paper bears a signature and is sealed with an Episcopal seal. The relics is described with Arnold´s hand: “21 July 1896, received from Brother Sax, who got this from the reverend Fr. Director at the boarding school of the Mary Sisters (Carmelites) in Landen (Liège)”.
One black box treasuring all Arnold’s remembrances from Rome, starting with three pebbles of tuff from the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, They were collected during his first Roman visit. The Founder went to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian on Monday of 1 July 1878, being given a tour by Msgr. de Waal, the Rector of Campo Santo who was a teacher at Collegium Augustinianum in Gaesdonck where Arnold Janssen studied (1849-1855).
During the third trip to Rome (11-23 April 1883), Fr. Arnold worked on a new rule. He was thinking to replace the Dominican Third Order Rule practiced in Steyl with a new one. On 22 April 1883, Fr. Arnold visited the Dominican basilica of St. Sabina on the Aventine Hill and the nearby orange garden where stood an ancient orange tree that was said to be planted by St. Dominic. From that garden, he collected five leaves and brought them to Steyl: From Orange three of St. Dominic at St. Sabina in Rome, picked up on 22 April 1883, Arnold Janssen.
Another remote relics in Arnold’s collection is related to the Cure of Ars, John Vianney, a place he personally visited in the summer of 1867. During his stay in Ars, his veneration of the Saint revealed itself in the three pieces of the confessional of the Cure of Ars he had taken along to Steyl.
3. Relics of the Stole
Another relic of second class is a violet stole largely in use at that time. The stole with a gilded cross on the surface contrasts with the fringes in violet, green, brown, and beige.
4. Arnold Janssen Untensilia (utensils)
In a separate box are preserved two utensils used by the Founder: The first is the wooden seal with a circular design in metal which probably goes back to the time before the founding of the Mission House in Steyl. The seal is covered by the four symbols of a book, chalice, cross and anchor.
The second utensil is a wooden pin which was carved by the deaf-mute brother Zacharias Moons (1865-1930) before joining the Society in 1893. The Brother used to say frequently: “I will pray till all deaf and dumb people in the Institute come to know the dear God.” The pin has symbols of Faith (Cross), Hope (Anchor) and Love (Heart) and above the symbols is the signature: Superior A. Janssen. The pin lay on the Founder’s desk for long years.
5. Arnold’s devotion of the relics of saints
The Founder’s collection contains a piece of memorabilia of another stigmatic of his time, Louise Lateau, 1850-1883, from Bois d´Haine in the diocese of Tournay in Belgium. Arnold Janssen preserved a tiny piece of cloth soaked with the blood from the stigmas of Louise Lateau as reported by the parish priest Paul Niels. The Rector of Steyl after receiving the relic wrote on 10 February, 1883: From this (blood) distributed Friday evening of 2 February 1883 to all persons, who were eyewitnesses of her ecstasy between two and three clock in the afternoon. I received it on 10 February 1883 from Mr. Bernhard Eikenbrock, priest of the diocese of Münster, who in turn received it the then parish priest Niels. Ps. Let me also add that the statements of Mr. Eikenbrock due to his being known to me as a reliable character are beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Fr. Arnold kept, from his time as a teacher in Bocholt, a piece of white cloth of the dying Blessed Maria von Mörl of the Third Order of St. Francis. He received the relic with the help of the Vicar Kösters from the curate Döring in Senden. This Founder’s prized possession is stored now in a black box named memorabilia varia and personally dated by Him on 8 October 1869, that is just a year after the death of Maria von Mörl. The clairvoyant von Mörl lived with stigmas in Kaltern in South Tyrol (1812-1868) and became well known in some circles.
There are also some remembrances in Arnold’s collection of Relics referring to the miraculous places of worship. There is a silk strand, distributed in the pilgrimage church of the Precious Blood in Gerresheim on 24 April 1877. The strands probably touched the relics of the sanctuary and were distributed to be swallowed in the case of illness.
From the same year, there is also a leaf from Lady Tomputte in Rotterdam747 – recorded in Steyl in the register of benefactors in October 1876. She brought the leaf from Marpingen near Sankt Wendel. The Marian apparition occurred in a little Marian shrine outside the village. In Marpingen, three middle-aged women claimed to having seen the Virgin Mary since May 1876. Thus on 16 December 1877, Marpingen became a focal point of the German media (1876-1877), when the government employed the police against the pilgrims and a curiosity in the Kulturkampf.
