Blogs

By Sarah Cahalan, Director of the Marian Library


The final volume of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible arrived in the Marian Library on Aug. 29. (We acquired the Bible’s seven volumes out of order, so the final volume to be delivered was actually Prophets.)

The Heritage Edition is a full-size reproduction of the handwritten and hand-illustrated Bible commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. It is a beautiful work of devotion and an avenue to multiple faiths and cultures in our diverse community. We could not have purchased this Bible without the support of 91 individual donors over about three-and-a-half years. With gifts ranging from $10 to $25,000, every contribution helped us to reach our goal.

The Saint John’s Bible is not just another book on the shelf. It is a piece of culture that both forms and reflects UD’s identity, akin to the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception or the statue of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. The Saint John’s Bible is routinely used for Masses on campus. It has been useful in classes on the Gospels and for sessions on visio divina led by Campus Ministry, and tour groups visiting campus from all over the world have stopped in to see it and learn about the production and illumination of the original. The Heritage Edition is a rare and valuable treasure, but more importantly, it is accessible.

Thank you!

Image shown: Psalms Frontispiece, Donald Jackson, Copyright 2004, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA.