| However, with Sr. Michael something
new would begin to flourish. For Arnold Janssen “all activity
for the kingdom of God is first and foremost a matter of prayer.”
That is why already at the opening of the first German mission house
in Steyl in 1875 he had considered introducing a form of perpetual
adoration in the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Only now, twenty
years later, could Arnold Janssen put into practice this plan of
his, which he had kept pending for so long.
From those Mission Sisters who had shown interest in the cloistered
section Arnold Janssen chose six and on 8 December 1896 they received
a rose-colored religious habit – pink being the symbol for
the burning love of the Holy Spirit. Among this group was Sr.
Michael Toennies, now called Sr. Mary Michael. With this group
Arnold Janssen laid the foundation for the Congregation of the
Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, thus fulfilling
his burning desire. This third branch of the Steyl missionary
enterprise would work alongside the two active missionary communities
for the spread of the faith and the sanctification of priests
as a contemplative-missionary congregation and through prayer,
sacrifice and the witness of their lives would bring down God’s
grace on the mission work. Two years later Helena Stollenwerk,
Co-foundress of the Mission Sisters, joined the cloistered branch.
But already on 3 February 1900 after a severe illness her death
brought the offering of her life to completion.
Soon the Founder entrusted the direction of the youngest of the
foundations to Sr. Mary Michael. She was very persevering, prudent
and far-sighted, this was combined with a deep piety and unshakeable
trust in God. She worked tirelessly for the inner and external
growth of the Congregation for the next 37 years until her death
as Superior General on 25 February 1934.
Today there are almost 400 Adoration Sisters on four continents
who pray, sacrifice and work in twenty convents in the USA, Argentina,
Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the Philippines, India,
Indonesia and Togo
Besides their specific task of prayer the Sisters carry on various
other activities for their daily support. Without exception they
work within the cloister. Yet they serve the common apostolic
goal of the Steyl missionary family though activities such as
vestment making, artistic works, making candles and cards, baking
hosts (the leftover from this is made into tasty cookies and sold),
preparation of agricultural products, preparing ointments from
herbs grown in the convent garden, which are appreciated as an
effective substitute for chemical medicines, washing and ironing
for the church and the convent.
Through a life shaped by contemplation the Sisters fulfill their
vocation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit through a faith-filled
immersion in the love and saving mystery of the Triune God. In
this way they witness to God as the center of all being and as
the one who alone can bring peace to the human heart. This attitude
of withdrawal helps the Sisters to be freer to share more deeply
in the sufferings and the hopes of people. Life is found in death
- may all people have it in its fullness and “may the holy
triune God live in the hearts of all people” (Arnold Janssen).
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