Leading up to Francis Libermann's Feast Day on February 2, we'll be traveling through his life and see how his calling from God lead to a reinvigorated Mission for the Spiritans and pioneered a Missionary Method that we still use today.

Day 1: CONVERSION

Jacob Libermann intended to become a Rabbi like his father, but after two of his brothers converted to Catholicism, he began searching for the truth. God answered him in a conversion experience and he was baptized Francis Mary Paul Libermann. He began pursuing the priesthood soon after.

In his own words: “It was then that remembering the God of my ancestors, I knelt and begged him to enlighten me as to the true religion. I asked Him to tell me if the beliefs of the Christians were true and to help me know them, but if they were false to keep me far from them. The Lord, who is close to all who call on him from the bottom of their hearts, heard my prayer and answered it. All at once I was enlightened. I saw the truth and faith penetrated my mind and heart.”

Today, in the Church and in the Congregation, we continue to believe firmly that the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth is still, and perhaps more than ever, the most powerful way of leading human beings to the fullness of their being. We continue to trust in the Kingdom proclaimed and lived by Jesus of Nazareth as the definitive means that leads us to an encounter with God. Our founders had an absolute conviction about this Truth. They discovered that their vocation and their mission were to open paths, to provide means, to create conditions... so that this Truth could be transmitted to the world. Their mission was to bring this good news, particularly where it was most needed.

These reflections follow the 2024 Francis Libermann Novena prepared by Br. Mariano Espinoza of the Paraguay Group of the Spiritans.