Lagura: A fool for the sake of the Christ-child
by Fr. Flor Lagura SVD Feats, Foibles of the Famous & Wise
Arnold Janssen SVD
(1837 – 1909)
AFTER his priestly ordination, Fr. Arnold Janssen of Goch, Germany, taught math and science where he proved to be an extraordinary teacher yet a strict disciplinarian — many Germans — to students.
But his heart was to go to the missions, especially China.
Applying for permission from his bishop to establish a missionary order, he faced stiff competition from a taller, better looking and one armed with better academic credentials in the person of Mons. Von Essen. Looking at the smallish diocesan priest who dreamed of a missionary order, the bishop reportedly remarked, “That Fr. Arnold must be either a fool or a saint!”
Trials and sufferings paved the life of Fr. Arnold. His original band of followers disagreed bitterly on whether the missionary congregation should also include religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The disagreement ended up in half of the original members leaving the community. On the way back from seeing the departure of the disgruntled members, Fr. Arnold openly wept, but Fray Juniperus, his Franciscan blood brother, consoled him.
Lack of funds was another problem Fr. Arnold faced. So he thought of selling the farm the SVD brothers were tending. However, shortly before Christmas, the SVD brothers at the farm invited Fr. Arnold for dinner.
After dining on chicken, pork and potatoes, the brothers offered their founder a tall glass of milk laced with whiskey. After watching, Fr. Arnold drink the whiskey-laced milk, they heard him remark, “Brothers, we might have to sell this farm. But never, never sell the cow!”
Christmas eve came. Despite his monotonous voice, Fr. Arnold managed to sing the high mass. After midnight, having greeted the members of the community, the founder went back to the darkened church, took and gently cradled the image of the Infant Jesus, contemplating the profound mystery of the Divine Word who became a little child. Such is the story of love only saints, probably also fools, can understand.
