SVD
Generalate

Dear brothers and sisters, a few days ago, we celebrated the mystery of the incarnation of the Word in the image of the baby Jesus. We recalled the gestures so dear to our founder: cradling the baby Jesus in his arms, placing him in the crib and adoring him, identifying with Him in his kenosis.

Today we celebrate our Father and Founder, and still on the path of emptying that the Incarnate Word assumed for the salvation of humanity, I invite you to reflect with me on the image of this man: Arnoldo Janssen.

The iconography we have of Arnold shows us the human figure, not surrounded by a golden halo. We often see him sitting, as an administrator, or elderly, as a wise figure. For many of us, it is still easier to call him father than saint, which demonstrates the familiarity we maintain with the founder. Contemplating him in his human aspects and in his unceasing search for God’s will should disturb us in our life and mission. In his insecurities and delays in decision-making, we can identify with our fears and weariness. It is good to see our holy founder in this way, because this is what God also did, who became man so that humanity could come to him.

Our last General Chapter highlighted our solidarity with the wounds of the world. More than that, it highlighted that our human condition is also a means of evangelization. Therefore, today I refer to our “old” founder in his most familiar or even idiosyncratic aspects.

It is true that we also see him with beautiful vestments, reinforcing the image of the priest, or even in the position of superior, when represented alongside the holy missionary Joseph Freinademetz. They are artistic representations of esteem, but they can divert our attention from the man who, upon kissing the feet of Joseph Freinademetz and John Baptist Anzer on the day of their missionary sending off, recognized the dignity of those messengers who proclaim peace, bring good news and announce salvation (Isaiah 52, 7).

In one of the documents relating to his canonization, it can be read that: “Few are those who know the man who founded and imbued with his spirit 3 congregations that developed in surprising ways”. And it’s no wonder, because he himself loved to stay on the sidelines, in the shadows. He loved to entirely hide behind his work.”

Arnold empties himself because he sees the meaning of his life in God’s will. Fulfilling it is the realization of his vocation. Understanding this sovereign will is a daily goal. He hides in his work because he recognizes it not as his own, but as belonging to the Holy Spirit. He acts like a true “servant”, without expecting merit for his service. He identifies himself with the Word sent by the Father and assumes human frailty for the salvation of all.

When we look at the humanity of our holy founder, we do not diminish him; on the contrary, we see everything that God did in him and how much he allowed himself to be transformed by God’s hands. The more limited his capabilities were in a certain area, the more he opened himself to divine grace and found the strength to be who he was. And this is not an easy task, as it requires a radical inner transformation.

For us, missionaries of the Arnoldous family, taking a look at everything that we still lack or those we have not yet developed must be an attitude inspired by the Spirit, which makes us see how much opportunity we still have ahead of us. We are not little because we are limited; We are a set of possibilities if we allow ourselves to be shaped by the hands of God. “To me, the least of all Christians, was given the grace to proclaim the incalculable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8).

As yet, we are called by the recently celebrated General Chapter to be faithful and creative. Our identity comes from the same Word that embraces the human condition, therefore fragile, for the salvation of all. Our creativity must reflect the creative and transforming action of God. We want to reflect the true light that shines in the darkness, not allowing it to be extinguished (John 1:5).

When the then Blessed Arnold Janssen had gone, a Roman cardinal, who knew him personally and admired the surprising development of the three missionary congregations he founded, expressed himself as follows: “Continue working like him, without making noise”.

Today, in the jubilee year of the 150th anniversary of our foundation, we celebrate our holy founder as a silent light, but with an intense glow. All over the world, we remember his life dedicated to the mission. We ask the Lord to grant us the greatness of being more human all the time, identifying ourselves with the least, the poor and those who suffer. We ask the Holy Spirit to continue to give us rest in our weariness and to guide us through the darkness. We ask for the intercession of Saint Arnold Janssen so that the youth of today may also identify with the missionary cause and may want to join us in this service to the Missio Dei. Amen!

Father Anselmo Ribeiro, SVD