The Founder of the Salvatorians

The Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, Italy was the site of the beatification of Salvatorian Founder, Blessed Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan. The ceremony took place on May 15, 2021. Bl. Jordan's path to beatification began in 1942, when documentation of his life and works was sent to the Vatican for review. After Fr. Jordan was bestowed with the title "Servant of God," Salvatorians helped spread his reputation of holiness with more and more people around the world. In 2011 Pope Benedict XVI officially announced that Bl. Jordan "lived a holy life," acknowledged the "heroicity of his virtues" and declared him "Venerable." The next steps - testimony and confirmation of a miracle - were needed before Bl. Jordan could be approved for beatification. On June 19, 2020 Pope Francis declared the authenticity of a miracle through the intercession of Bl. Jordan.

The Miracle

In 2014, medical specialists informed a young couple in Brazil that their unborn child had an incurable bone disease, skeletal dysplasia. The couple, who were Lay Salvatorians, invited fellow Salvatorian Family members to pray with them through the intercession of Fr. Francis Jordan. On September 8, 2014 - Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Mother and anniversary of Bl. Jordan's death - their daughter was born completely healthy. After verifying all canonical requirements, Pope Francis declared a miraculous healing worked by God through Bl. Jordan's intercession. This official decree was the final step on his path to beatification.

The Salvatorian Story

John Baptist Jordan was born on June 16, 1848 in Gurtweil, Germany, a small town in the Black Forest region. For his work as a laborer and painter-decorator, he traveled throughout his homeland. In his travels, he saw how government constraints - known as the "Kulturkampf" - discouraged Roman Catholics from practicing their faith. It only strengthened Jordan's faith, however, and on July 21, 1878 he was ordained to the priesthood in Freiburg, Germany. Fr. Jordan pondered how to combat the growing void in spirituality and religion. In September 1880, he met with Pope Leo XIII and outlined his vision to found a society devoted to teaching of the faith. For the times, Fr. Jordan's vision was bold: men and women, religious and lay, working together as equals to bring the Gospel of the Savior to all people everywhere. The pope gave Jordan his blessing, and on December 8, 1881 Fr. Jordan and two others professed private vows as members of the Apostolic Teaching Society. Eventually, Therese Von Wülleweber joined them. Together with Fr. Jordan, she would co-found the Sisters of the Divine Savior and lead the congregation as Mother Mary of the Apostles for 19 years. The first Lay Salvatorians made their commitment in 1971 and the Lay Salvatorians adopted their formal name, International Community of the Divine Savior, in 2006. As Fr. Jordan's followers grew in numbers, they were sent as missionaries around the world. Fr. Jordan died in Tafers, Switzerland on September 8, 1918 and was buried in the local church. In 1956, his body was moved to Rome and entombed in a special chapel in the Society Motherhouse. On March 19, 1999, Pope John Paul II visited and prayed at Fr. Jordan's tomb.

The Salvatorian Family

Today, more than 2,000 priests and brothers, sisters, and Lay Salvatorian women and men carry out Fr. Jordan's mission in a variety of ministries on six continents. They are known as the three branches of the Salvatorian Family: The Society of the Divine Savior (priests and brothers); the Divine Savior Congregation (sisters); and International Community of the Divine Savior, or Lay Salvatorians.

The Community in Verona