The diary contains a wealth of deeply felt thoughts, insights, resolutions and prayers. Fr. Jordan recorded in it passages he had read in spiritual books, contemplated during meditation, or formulated himself. For him, this diary was a personal aid on his spiritual journey. He had never intended to publish it. On his deathbed, he explained that it contained only things that were between him and God.

It is precisely for this reason that the diary offers a particularly authentic insight into the spiritual maturation of the Order’s founder. It reveals how earnestly and consistently Fr. Jordan wrestled with his spiritual life, his vocation and his mission. At the same time, the entries reflect the simplicity, depth and sincerity of his religious personality. The diary can therefore be regarded as an important foundation of Salvatorian spirituality. It is, as it were, a story of his soul.

Fr. Jordan began keeping his notes whilst he was a student and continued to do so until a few months before his death. The diary is written in fourteen languages. Particularly during his time at the seminary in St Peter’s, he collected numerous spiritual texts spanning both Christian millennia, which helped him to develop his own spirituality. At the same time, the entries document his personal spiritual experiences, both during times of inner trial and in moments of great joy. They bear witness to his spiritual struggles and his apostolic zeal.

In addition to the diary, his so-called ‘chapter talks’ also shaped the spiritual life of the community. At the weekly meetings of his fellow brothers, Fr. Jordan offered spiritual guidance and shared his apostolic experiences.

Today, the Spiritual Diary is a key source for understanding the founder’s spirituality. Following its publication in 1981 in German with commentary in a two-volume edition, and its release in 1999 as a facsimile with a transcription, a new German edition with introductions was published in 2006. This has made the work accessible to a wider readership.

Through his diary and his life, Fr. Francis Jordan can still today serve as a spiritual guide for those seeking a path to apostolic dedication and Christian holiness.