SALVATORIANS

The Society of the Divine Savior (SDS, Official Catholic Directory #1200) was founded in Rome, Italy, on Dec. 8, 1881, by Father Franziskus Maria of the Cross jordan. Its members, popularly known as Salvatorians, are priests and coadjutor brothers who, in addition to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, are bound by the "promise of the apostolate," which is made at the time of profession and constitutes a fourth vow. The zeal for souls that this promise symbolizes prompted the founder to place the society under the special protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles. The specific purpose of the society is the preservation and spread of the faith through the sacred ministry, the education of youth, retreats, and missionary work among non-Catholics.

Father Jordan originally intended to form a congregation of priests and laity who, while working in the world, would be united by vows and a common purpose. It was first entitled the Apostolic Teaching Society and it received enthusiastic support among some of the hierarchy and the blessing of Leo XIII. Thus encouraged, Jordan pursued his goal vigorously, finding strong support in his first follower, Father Bonaventure Luethen, a noted author.

Jordan's plan, however, proved to be too radical for his times; thus his group finally settled into a more conventional pattern. After overcoming further difficulties, the society was recognized as a religious congregation in 1883 and received its present name in 1894. The first papal approval was granted in 1905 and final approbation in 1911. Jordan remained superior general until 1915. Before his death in 1917, he was instrumental in founding two congregations of women, the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother and the Sisters of the divine savior (1888).

In 1889, with only six priests and 17 brothers, Jordan applied to the Holy See for a foreign mission. Soon after, two fathers and two brothers established the society's first mission in the newly erected Prefecture Apostolic of Assam, India. Unfortunately, World War I reduced the effectiveness of this mission and the Salvatorians were later sent to China. After China fell to the Communists, the missionaries began work in Taiwan. In 1955 the society established foundations in Africa. As membership increased, the society spread to other areas of the world. The society's work generally centered in parishes, seminaries, and schools.

In the U.S. the Salvatorians were introduced in 1896 at St. Nazianz, Wis., by Jordan himself. This mission was regarded as the original U.S. foundation, since a previous mission in Oregon had been short-lived. The Fathers assumed the spiritual care of the Oschwald Association and later opened a seminary and a publishing department that has since become the Salvatorian center for publications, promotion, and public relations. The principal work of the society in the U.S. is the education of youth. Salvatorians in the U.S. also staff parishes and conduct retreats. The provincial residence is in Milwaukee, Wis. The generalate is in Rome.

Bibliography: p. pfeiffer, Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, tr. w. herbst (St. Nazianz, Wis. 1936).

[r. mollen/eds.]