Arnold Janssen
German-Dutch Roman Catholic priest and saint
Feast: 15 January (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Arnold Janssen was born at Goch in the Rhine Province on 5 November 1837 and ordained on 15 August 1861. After years of pastoral work and teaching, and as diocesan president of the Apostleship of Prayer, he felt called to found a missionary centre for Germany.
On 8 September 1875 he opened the Mission House of St Michael at Steyl in Holland, from which grew the Society of the Divine Word, approved in 1901, with missions across the world. He died at Steyl on 15 January 1909.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A priest who founded a missionary society that spread across the world.
Connected on this site
- Helena Stollenwerk Saint“Helena Stollenwerk, SSpS (28 November 1852 - 3 February 1900) was a German Catholic religious sister who collaborated with Arnold Janssen and Hendrina Stenmanns and co-founded the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit.” — Wikipedia
- Hendrina Stenmanns Blessed“Hendrina Stenmanns, SSpS (Josefa in religion; 28 May 1852 - 20 May 1903) was a German Catholic religious sister who co-founded the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, which she founded alongside Arnold Janssen and Helena Stollenwerk.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Arnold Janssen
- Wikidata Q77406 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Arnold Janssen (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.