Arnold's Prayer

"Christ must dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:17).

Today we commemorate the founder of the Society of the Divine Word, Saint Arnold Janssen, who prayed, "May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people." This prayer stemmed from Father Arnold's profound faith and his desire for all people to hear the Good News of the Word of God—Jesus Christ.

He therefore sent his missionaries to spread the Christian faith throughout the world. Before the Blessed Sacrament, he would encourage them, saying, "Before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace, let the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief give way." He knew that the mysterious plan of salvation for humanity is realized through the Church and the sacraments.

Arnold Janssen was a wise and prudent man who drew his wisdom from the Triune God. In God, he discovered eternal Truth, infinite Power, and incomprehensible Goodness. Before God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, he knelt and taught this posture to his spiritual sons and daughters in the three religious congregations he founded. In the names of these congregations, he revealed the foundations of his faith in the divine Word and the Holy Spirit.

Our Founder strengthened the inner person through adoration before the tabernacle. There he offered humble prayers that the disciples of Christ might be rooted in love and also be able to grasp the mystery of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Arnold Janssen has shown us that faith in Christ can transform lives and inspire great deeds. May his example inspire us to become witnesses of the Gospel in our daily lives. Let us pray that like him, we may always be ready to answer the Lord's call and carry his love to all people we encounter on our journey. Amen.