The legislative work of Fr. Arnold Janssen as the Founder of the Missionary Congregations
The legislative work of Fr. Arnold Janssen as the Founder of the Missionary Congregations

Summary/Abstract: This historical study presents the untiring legislative activity of Fr. Arnold Janssen, the Founder of the Society of the Word of God in Steyl (1875), who during 35 years of his life, had developed six different sets of internal law (Statutes and Constitutions) to regulate the life and organization of his Institute: Statutes of the Mission House (1876); February Rule of 1885; September Rule of 1885; Rule of 1891, Rule of 1898 and Rule of 1905. In addition, he laboured to create the Rule for the Mission Sisters SSpS (1891). The Founder’s legislative work mirrors faithfully his thoughts, intentions and spiritual profile. It also discloses the charisma, character and spirituality of his Foundations. The elaboration of the Constitution aimed at providing the Congregation with a specific organizational framework and with means to reach the missionary goals. The key move in this endeavour was the introduction of religious vows and the centralization of the structure of the Society to consolidate the activities of its missionaries through internal unity and spiritual rooting. The Founder not only strived to develop the specific legal norms, but wanted the law to be animated by the right spirit. Therefore, he was extremely determined to provide his spiritual sons and daughters with healthy spiritual food for their personal growth. Hoping to obtain approval from the competent ecclesiastical authorities, Fr. Arnold spent a good deal of time trying to work out for each of his three congregations a solid, unified, “one-size-fits-all” design of the nature, purpose and spirit of the missionary task.

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