Story of Saint Sabas (439-532)

Sabas born in the year 439. He lives with his aunt who treated him badly in his childhood. However, this experience is a milestone beginning the long journey of his life.
Sabas is the son of an officer in military service. When his father got a job to go to Alexandria, Egypt, which at that time he was a child, entrusted to her aunt. She stayed without her parents. Of course this is an unpleasant experience for a child.
This condition is worsened by the treatment that is not good to her aunt. Until finally, Sabas fled to his uncle's house. His departure is certainly a problem. When he was found, a fight broke out between his aunt's husband with his uncle.
Seeing the fight, Sabas tenderhearted, felt unhappy. He expects calm atmosphere where people can live in peace. Then, he fled again. This time, he escaped to a monastery.
Knowing departure Sabas to the monastery, seeking his second uncle. They will regret what they do and ask Sabas for the return. They promised to give him all rights of inheritance.
However, Sabas had already fallen in love with the life of the monastery. He is happy to stay at the monastery and refused to leave. There, he found that he longed for peace. Be he a monk youngest pray.
After mature enough, at the age of eighteen, Sabas went up to Jerusalem. Actually he wanted to live alone with God there. However, because it is still very young, he had to stay at another monastery in the meantime.
There, he did not live comfortably. He worked menial jobs and a lot of weight. He split the wood for the fireplace and to bear a heavy bucket of water. There is one important event that occurred at that time. One day, when he was sent to accompany a monk to Alexandria, he met with his parents. What surprised them and also himself.
Her parents pleaded with Sabas live with them. They want to live honorable Sabas like them. However, his love of simple monastic life beat her love of worldly things.
This was revealed when he tries to reject her parents are given gold coins. Although ultimately accepted, he immediately gave it to the head of his monastery. He loved life more simple.
After several years of living in the convent, Sabas run also planned. He lives alone to experience the togetherness with the Lord in Jerusalem, like what she had longed for since long. He lived alone for four years.
After that, he started a new monastery. He had many disciples and was considered respectable in the presence of other monks. This proved, when he was given the task to be responsible for all the monks in Palestine.
He never sent the emperor to solve the problems of the Church is important. When facing the emperor, he still wore a simple robe.
Sabas long life. He died in 532 in the age of 93 years. He spent most of his life as a simple monk. He was determined to be a saint and is celebrated on December 5.

Story of Saint Arnoldus Yanssen (1837-1905)

The second child of eleven siblings born to Gerhard and Anna Katharina Yanssen Wellesen, 5 November 1937. He was born in Goch, a small town in the lowlands German Rhineland, Germany border - the Netherlands. Three brothers died after he was born."So every good tree produces good fruit ..." (Matthew 7:17). This text is identical to the Arnold family Yanssen. Strong spirit of prayer which is embedded in Arnold since he was small. Piety of his parents made very sure she will be the will of God in him.Every morning at five, his mother woke the little Arnold is still sleeping. Then, with his mother, he said a prayer in the morning. After that, he was given a glass of milk and a piece of bread with butter. After breakfast, Arnold out of the house. The four cows are tied with chains carried out of the cage. He had to herd the cows to pasture.Since childhood, Arnold has been accustomed to pray and work hard by his mother.Arnold fond of mathematics. Usually people like this start and end of all things with a certain calculation.However, Arnold's bold and confident in the will of God, not on mathematical calculations. He believed, he could establish a religious union of the Church missionary in a tense situation in Germany at that time, known as the Kulturkampf.The spirit of prayer that has been ingrained from his family since childhood, makes Arnold pious. As a priest, he has a devotion to the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Our Lady. He diligently read and reflect on Scripture.This custom carried away from his family. Every night before heading to bed, the father Gerhard Yanssen always take their children to read the Gospel of John 1:1-18 as a family prayer.The spirit and belief in God's will that is ingrained in Arnold became the basis for him to fight union founded three religious. First, the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD). Second, Sancti Spiritus Servarum (SSpS), and third, Sancti Spiritus de Adoratione Servarum Perpetua (SSpSAP).Plan the establishment of the mission house and a religious union that he cetuskan moment is not easy. He did not have enough funds and manpower to build a mission house. When asked where he would obtain the funds to build houses for the mission, he replied, "Money is still in the pockets of donors, a matter of time, if God wants this job!" Express full submission.The plan "crazy" Arnold Yanssen various kinds of responses it received from people around him. Not a few of those who booed and pessimistic with that dream. The idea of establishing a mission house was regarded as something that is impossible, even considered a crazy idea.They doubted the ability of Arnold Yanssen lead a mission house. They also consider the relationship of the Church with the government when it is chaotic, due to disputes Catholic Church under Pope Pius IX and the Kingdom of Prussia or the German Empire.In that situation, the government expelled priests and closed seminaries. In fact, they issued a rule that prohibits a clergyman doing apostolate of evangelization and other activities. Who violate this rule were threatened with jail. As a result, many clergy with the political background was arrested and detained.However, Arnold Yanssen no loss. He established a mission house in the City Steyl, District Tegelen, the Netherlands, not far from his homeland Goch. Officially, he opened a mission house for the SVD in Steyl on 8 September 1875. March 2, 1879, he sent two missionaries to China, one of which is St. Joseph Freinademetz.On December 8, 1889, Arnold founded the SSpS are also targeted to be missionaries. As the prayer is strong, he wants to establish a union again, which is contemplative union that specifically assist the missionaries through their prayers. In 1896, he founded SSpSAP.Yanssen Arnold died on January 15, 1909. Every 15 January, the Church celebrates the feast.