Today 25th December 2017,
we Salvatorians, have a grateful joy to celebrate the Foundation of the Society
of the Divine Savior. The title “Divine Savior” refers actually to Jesus Christ
Himself who is our Savior. The Society is dedicated to the Divine Savior. And
our patrons are Mary, Mother of the Savior, all the Apostles, Saint Michael the
Archangel, and Saint Joseph.
1. How is it composed? (The Structure of
the Society)
The
Salvatorian Family is like a tree, which has three main parts. The first branch
is composed with Fathers and brothers. Then the second includes the
Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Saviour and finally the third branch
includes the Lay Salvatorians. Generally speaking Salvatorians use the
post-nominal letters “S.D.S”. We are really an international religious
congregation. The universal character of the Society was always present from
the foundation right up to our time. That is why we are in many countries. (The
case of our community Mater Salvatoris we
have brothers from Kenya, Uganda, Congo, India, Tanzania.) This shows the
universality. The Generalate of the community is in Rome. Then the current
Superior General of the Salvatorians is Reverend Father Milton Zonta, SDS.
2. Our Spirituality and Mission
In
keeping with the spiritual vision of Father Francis Jordan, the Salvatorians
are prepared to serve in any place, proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Son of God to
all people by all ways and means which the love of Christ inspires, especially
through the witness of our lives, our kindness, and our apostolic zeal. We are
ready to serve all people without distinction of race, color and tongue.
The
primary biblical texts which are very fundamental for understanding both our
Charism and spiritual vision of Father Francis Jordan are actually found in: John 17:3 “Now eternal life is this, to
know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” This is the very
crucial biblical revelation of our Charism.
Also we
have Matthew 28:19-20 “Go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And, behold, I am with you always until the end of the age.”
Therefore the aim of the Society is Teaching
and Evangelizing all nations without distinction.
3. The Official Foundation Day
The
Society of the Divine Savior was founded by Venerable Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan in Rome on December 8th,
1881.
How was it done?
After his journey to the Middle East with some priest, Jordan returned to Rome
in 1880, and he was ready to act. Father Jordan’s original plan was to found an
association for priests and for laity with varied levels of involvement. But
the Church authorities rejected that idea and led him to adopt the more typical
format of a religious order, known first as the “Catholic Teaching Society
and starting in 1894, as the Society of the Divine Savior.
So,
Jordan received Pope Leo XIII’s blessing to begin his new “Apostolic Teaching Society.” Two diocesan priests: Father Bernard Luethen and Father Frederick
von Leonhardi (Collaborators), joined him. And on December 8, 1881, the
three celebrated a simple foundation ceremony. Father Jordan led the Society
until 1915, experiencing both success and suffering along the way. Then the
situation of the First World War forced him to leave Rome for Switzerland,
where he lived until his death on September 8, 1918. Then he was succeeded by
Father Pankratius Pfeiffer as the second superior general of the Society.
Conclusion
My
dear Reverend Fathers and brothers!!! To sum up this short history of the
Society, we can say that it was on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of
the Blessed Virgin Mary in the year 1881, after a period of examination
following spiritual exercises B. Luthen took vows of poverty, chastity, and
obedience for three years in Rome. And Friedrich von Leonhardi for life in the
Chapel of Saint Bridget of Sweden. It was actually on the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1881 our Society came into being. This is
accurate because the founder himself had a great devotion to Mary Mother of the
Savior, and that is why he took even the name of Father Francis Mary of the
Cross Jordan.
Through the intercession of Father
Francis Jordan, may the Lord bless all Salvatorians present in the world so
that they may fulfill good work for the salvation of the souls, in spreading
the love of the Divine Savior to all people.
Mary Mother of the Savior!!! Ora pro Nobis.
