Blessed Francis Mary Of The Cross Jordan

Biography

Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, also known as Johann Baptist Jordan or Franziskus Maria of the Cross Jordan, was born on 16 June 1848 in Gurtweil, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany. He came from a humble background, growing up in a poor family. In his youth, he worked as a wandering laborer and house painter, traveling through various regions.

During his journeys, Jordan became acutely aware of the challenges faced by the Catholic Church in Germany due to the government's restrictions known as Kulturkampf. Witnessing the increasing number of people falling away from the Church, he felt a deep calling to religious studies. Answering this call, he pursued his studies and was ordained a Catholic priest on 2 July 1878.

Following his ordination, Jordan's thirst for knowledge led him to Rome, Italy, where he delved into the study of several languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Syrian, Aramaic, Coptic, and Arabic. Equipped with a diverse linguistic background, he founded the Apostolic Teaching Society, also known as the Catholic Teaching Society, on 8 December 1881. It was in this pursuit that he took on the name Francis Mary of the Cross.

In collaboration with Blessed Maria Therese von Wüllenweber, Jordan founded the Sisters of the Divine Savior, also known as the Salvatorian Sisters, in 1888. This religious order was established to serve and support the Church and society through various forms of apostolate and mission work.

Jordan's dedication to the mission of spreading the Gospel led him to establish the SocietÖ del Divin Salvatore, or the Society of the Divine Savior, in 1892‚Äì1893. This organization aimed to promote and carry out the salvific mission of Christ.

The outbreak of World War I in 1914 limited Jordan's ability to communicate with the Salvatorian communities. Consequently, in 1915, he was forced to flee from Rome to Tafers, a neutral territory in Switzerland. It was in Tafers where he spent the remainder of his life, continuing to inspire and guide the Salvatorians from there.

Throughout his life, Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan's teachings and actions exemplified his unwavering commitment to the faith and his tireless efforts in promoting the teachings of Christ. The Salvatorians, who continue their important work to this day, consist of approximately 2,500 Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters serving in numerous countries around the world.

Blessed Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan's feast days are celebrated on 8 September, as well as on 21 July on some calendars, commemorating the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. He passed away on 8 September 1918 in Tafers, Fribourg, Switzerland, due to natural causes.

Recognizing his exemplary life of virtue, Pope Benedict XVI declared the heroic virtues of Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan on 14 January 2011, granting him the title of Venerable. Later, on 15 May 2021, Pope Francis beatified him, marking a significant step toward his potential canonization as a saint. The beatification ceremony took place in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, Italy. The beatification miracle involved the miraculous cure of an unborn child suffering from skeletal dysplasia, a bone disease, in Jundiaí, Brazil in 2014. The child's parents, who were lay Salvatorians, fervently prayed for the intercession of Father Francis in this healing.