Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan

Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, born Johann Baptist Jordan, ( born June 16, 1848 in Gurtweil; † September 8, 1918 in Tafers in Switzerland ) was a Catholic priest and founder of the order.

Short Biography

Johann Baptist Jordan came from the poorest backgrounds. In his 14th year his father died. This stroke of fate changed his nature: he was previously enterprising, his attitude to life from now on by eagerness to learn, seclusion and deprivation was characterized. After school, he first learned the trade of ornamental painter and hired himself occasionally as Rottenberg workers during the laying of railroad tracks before he made up a high school at the age of 26 years. This was followed by the study of theology and philosophy at the University of Freiburg. 1878 was ordained priest.

Since he could not exercise his priesthood in Germany because of anti-Catholic Kulturkampf laws, he moved to Rome, where he studied Aramaic, Syriac and Coptic languages ​​at the papal seminar. After an educational trip to the Orient, he founded on December 8, 1881, the " Society of the Divine Savior " ( Salvatorianer ) for internal and external mission and took the name Father Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan to.

On December 8, 1888 he founded, together with Baroness Therese of Wüllenweber, known by his religious name "Mother Mary of the Apostles ", the order of the " Sisters of the Divine Savior " ( Salvatorian ).

The Order of Salvatorianer received papal approbation in 1911. Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan devoted himself in subsequent years, the stabilization of his work. He initiated several offices in Europe, North and South America and India.

Because of his failing health and the outbreak of the First World War laid Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan the Order headquarters from Rome to neutral Switzerland, after Fribourg. He died on September 8, 1918 in Tafers ( Switzerland ). His remains were excavated on 12 September 1956 and taken to Rome in the Generalate.

1942, the beatification process has been initiated. Since in the course of the investigations appeared unclear about a conflict between him and a Mitordensgründerin, the beatification has not been completed yet.

In 2009 in Vienna Hietzing (13th district) was named the Wüllenweber - and -Jordan- place for him and Therese of Wüllenweber.