Padre Arnoldo Janssen: straordinaria efficacia del leader umile e fiducioso
Father Arnold Janssen and His Extraordinary Effectiveness as a Humble Leader, Trusting in Providence

Summary/Abstract: In 1875, Father Arnold Janssen founded an institution that was to have a significant impact on the missionary work of the Church: the Society of the Divine Word. Following the evidence established during his beatification process, as well as other publications, the author identifies a number of factors that positively influenced Janssen’s work. He measures Janssen’s personality against criteria proposed by Alexandre Havard in his book Etyka przywódcy [Leader’s Ethics] (Gdańsk 2011; New York 2007). According to Havard, leaders’ assessment should take into account the classical notion of the cardinal virtues, as well as their generosity and humility; the latter two highly praised by the ancients. Critical analysis of Janssen’s life reveals him as an efficient leader, who allowed God’s grace work on his weaknesses. Though Janssen was not endowed with any special charisma, the sources reveal him as a man of God who achieved extraordinary perfection in the practice of the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, courage and temperance. He did this thanks to his authentic humility and simplicity. His life work speaks for itself. Janssen’s greatness is rooted in the supernatural realm. Through unceasing and heroic human efforts and harmonious cooperation with God’s grace he became an universally admired leader, wholly deserving the title Dux, engraved on his tombstone in Steyl.

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