Society
Of The Divine Word

Eyes of Focus
Saint Arnold lived in a time when the Church in Germany faced immense challenges: the Kulturkampf, the suppression of religious orders, and political hostility against the faith. Many would have resigned or looked inward for safety. Yet Arnold Janssen fixed his gaze firmly on God’s will.

• Focus on God’s Word: He was a man of prayer, constantly discerning God’s plan. His eyes were trained to read the signs of the times in light of the Gospel.
• Focus on Mission: He did not allow himself to be distracted by discouragement or criticism. Against all odds, he founded the mission house in Steyl, which became the cradle of our congregation. His eyes were not blurred by obstacles but sharpened by purpose.
• Focus on Community: Arnold’s vision was never individualistic. He saw the need to gather men and women, priests and brothers, sisters and laity, into one missionary family.
  
  

Today, our congregation needs this same focus: to see clearly amidst the noise of secularism, materialism, and division. Like our founder, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on Christ and on the mission entrusted to us: to proclaim the Word of God to all nations.

Eyes of Hope
Arnold Janssen’s eyes were not only focused but also filled with hope. He once said: “The Lord challenges our faith to do something new, precisely when so many things are collapsing in the Church.” These are the words of a man who looked beyond difficulties to God’s promises.

• Hope for the World: He believed that even in dark times, God’s Spirit was alive and active. That hope drove him to send missionaries far beyond Europe, to places he would never personally see.
• Hope for the Congregation: Arnold trusted that what was planted in weakness would grow through God’s grace. His faith in small beginnings gave courage to the first missionaries.
• Hope for Humanity: He saw in every culture, every people, a seed of God’s presence waiting to be discovered. His eyes of hope allowed him to respect differences and encourage dialogue.
  
  

In our wounded world today: torn apart by wars, climate crises, injustice, and loss of faith. We need to inherit those same eyes of hope. Instead of lamenting what is broken, we are invited to see what is possible through God’s grace.

A Call to the SVD Today
Saint Arnold’s eyes challenge us as SVDs to live differently in the 21st century:

• To keep focused eyes that do not lose sight of our charism amidst administrative burdens, personal ambitions, or discouragement.
• To keep hopeful eyes that believe in God’s work even when numbers are declining, when communities are wounded, or when our mission seems overwhelming.
  
  

His gaze is a reminder that mission is not about what we see with human eyes, but about what we dare to see with the eyes of faith.

In conclusion, in a world that is wounded, distracted, and often desperate, Saint Arnold Janssen offers us his eyes; eyes of focus and of hope. If we learn to see as he did, we will be able to guide our congregation toward renewed faithfulness and courage. May his vision inspire us to remain rooted in God, attentive to the cries of humanity, and confident that the Divine Word continues to make all things new.

“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace, and may the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all.”