TheScribe The Newsletter of the Heritage Edition–The Fine Art Edition of The Saint John’s Bible

After hosting “Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible” at the Joslyn Museum in early 2006, a fine art reproduction

of the Bible has found a permanent home in Omaha at College of Saint Mary (CSM), a private women’s Catholic college. The Heritage Edition’s arrival was celebrated at a special reception on Sept. 23. The event followed the Mercy Day Vespers and Crucifix dedication service performed by two Sisters of Mercy in the new Prayer Circle. The celebration was all part of CSM’s 2010 Heritage Week.

The fine art reproduction will provide students and the Omaha community with a work of art that reflects its Catholic heritage,

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Saint Mary’s College Begins New Academic Year with Gift of The Saint John’s Bible

Each fall, the campus community of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame

comes together to celebrate the opening of the academic year. This year the capstone to the celebration was the presentation of the Heritage Edition, which was a gift from Saint Mary’s alumna and friend of the college, Judy Rauenhorst Mahoney ’74. The Bible was presented to Saint Mary's College and blessed at the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit on Aug. 25 at the all-women’s Catholic college.

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Bible’s Arrival Helps College of Saint Mary Celebrate Heritage, Sacred Word

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Dr. Judy Eby, RSM, assistant professor of theology at CSM, showcases the Pentateuch volume.

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During the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit four of the Bible’s seven volumes – Pentateuch, Psalms, Prophets, Wisdom Books – were presented and displayed. “Saint John’s is thrilled that Saint Mary’s plans to share these beautiful volumes with students and staff for generations to come,” said Abbot John Klassen, OSB, who con-celebrated the mass with Rev. Kenneth M. Molinaro, a member of the Saint Mary's College Board of Trustees, and seen here blessing the volumes.

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The Heritage Edition will be on permanent display at the Cushwa-Leighton Library. One volume at a time will sit open, under glass, in a cabinet handcrafted by monastic and lay wood-workers at Saint John’s Abbey. To showcase the beauty of the Bible’s artwork and calligraphy, a librarian will trade out the volume on display and open it to readings appropriate to the liturgical season.

“I was really inspired by The Saint John’s

Bible project and, out of love for Saint Mary’s, I thought of the college right away

“It is an honor to receive the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible,” said President Carol Ann Mooney of the seven-volume manuscript. “Saint Mary’s is proud to be among the few educational, religious, art and cultural centers around the world, including the Vatican, to be presented one of just 299 copies of this fine work.”

enhances the college’s education and outreach programs, and inspires faith and belief.

“CSM will use The Saint John’s

Bible Heritage Edition to expand our educational offerings in interdisciplinary study, scholarly research and outreach,” said Susan Medina, development officer for College of Saint Mary. “The volumes will be used in theology courses to inspire students to a deeper understanding of the sacred words that are central to our Judeo-Christian heritage and it will become a luminous icon for spiritual life on campus.

To expand its use as an educational resource, CSM will place the volumes on permanent display in an enhanced exhibition space. According to the college, the accessibility of this extraordinary

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and how students could be influenced by it,” Mahoney said of her gift. The Bible combines the Minneapolis resident’s love for art and books. “I came to Saint Mary’s to study art but changed my major to humanistic studies where we studied Christian culture and read a lot of books. The essence of Christian culture is the Bible. This is a combination of a good book and an art masterpiece and I hope the college and South Bend communities enjoy the Heritage Edition for years to come.”

Saint Mary’s College is the 15th institution worldwide to receive a copy of the Heritage Edition. To read more, visit saintjohnsbible.org and click on “Heritage Program.”

work of art will open new doors for igniting spiritual imagination, fostering the arts, and enhancing knowledge about faith and religious beliefs. Additional outreach opportunities — including tours,

Danielle Mangano, cataloger in the CSM Library, shows the Ecclesiastes Frontispiece in Prophets.

classroom visits and lectures — will be provided to local schools, community groups and parishes. Visit saintjohnsbible.org and click on “Heritage Program” for more information.

Anne Mahoney, a 2005 Saint Mary’s College graduate and daughter of Judy Rauenhorst Mahoney ’74 views one of four volumes on display. Photo by Mike Cashore.

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Arizona State University

Location: A Heritage Edition was donated to the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies of Arizona State University by George Berkner, a 1956 Saint John’s University graduate. It will be preserved and made accessible for class lectures or scholarly research at the Universities’ Special Collections.

Scholarship/Research: Students and faculty will employ the Bible to emphasize the importance of the international transmission of intellectual texts and religious faith through early print production and distribution. Special Collections will work with faculty to create effective learning opportunities that celebrate authentic rare books and accurate or creative facsimiles.

has sought and acquired historic rare books, facsimile editions and exemplarily book art pieces that enable research, instruction and comparative study in a variety of disciplines including art history and religious studies. ASU has found that the Heritage Edition, with its outstanding design and craftsmanship, places Biblical texts in broader contexts for comparative study.

Exhibition/Display: The Heritage Edition was showcased during ASU’s Homecoming Week in late October. The University Libraries anticipates numerous requests for exhibitions.

Loyola Marymount University

Location: Loyola Marymount University’s fine art edition of The Saint

John’s Bible is part of the Rare Book Collection in the Department of Archives and Special Collections at the William H. Hannon Library. The volumes are housed in the library’s special collections vault on shelves near LMU’s Gutenberg Bible leaf. The Heritage Edition is a gift of Laura (LMU class of 1974) and Steven Williamson in honor of Fr. Robert B. Lawton, S.J.

Scholarship/Research: A number of classes are scheduled to visit the Rare Book Collection and The Saint

John’s Bible will be a study source especially for the students of “Meeting Christ in Faith and Art” course that approaches Christology through theological aesthetics. The Bible will also inspire students in the creation of their own manuscript artwork.

Collection: LMU has a wide variety of rare and important works in its collection. The Heritage Edition complements the collection as a remarkable printing achievement of its time. A vast printing feat, it joins the Commedia of Dante (1481) and the First Folio of Shakespeare (1623). These timeless works stand as historical witness to the past. The Heritage Edition also complements the collection as a pivotal

Bible Expands Scholarly Pursuits, Special Collections

Since early 2008 more than a dozen institutions have received Heritage Editions. Most have found permanent homes at the universities’ libraries. Now hundreds of undergraduates, graduates, faculty members and visiting scholars have access to the

pages, illuminations and stories behind The Saint John’s Bible. The Scribe asked the deans and library staff at Arizona State University, Loyola Marymount University and Marquette University to tell us more about their Heritage Edition’s home and how the sacred work of art is being used in scholarly pursuit and how it fits into the institutions’ special collections.

player in the history of the book and is being shown alongside LMU’s 13-15th century Bibles and the Gutenberg Leaf. The Heritage Edition honors both the meticulous art of the medieval manuscript tradition and the accessibility and inventiveness brought about by the dawn of printing. Finally, it complements the collection as a Christian masterpiece expressing spirituality through art and word.

Exhibition/Display: One of the volumes has been on display for an annual Archives and Special Collections event and for the inauguration of the English department’s new teaching fellows. Wisdom Books was selected to inspire the fellows in imparting knowledge to undergraduate students. All four volumes were on display for Alumni Weekend.

Marquette University

Location: Raynor Memorial Libraries Department of Special Collections and Archives has collected the Heritage Edition. This program is an extension of the spiritual and scholarly strengths of Marquette as a Christian, Catholic and Jesuit institution, which preserves manuscript collections with significant depth on topics ranging from medieval Catholic theology to modern social justice movements.

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Collection: ASU Special Collections

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From Minutes to Seconds, Advances Help Image Capture

The imaging of The Saint John’s Bible is an amazing technological feat that

has changed remarkably over time. For the first four volumes, images of the folios were taken using a scanning camera — each image taking 20 minutes to capture. While each folio was hydrated prior to being weighted down for imaging, during the capture the bright lights dried out the vellum and caused it to wrinkle and move. Vellum does not tolerate dry and hot environments well. It is calfskin and in constant flux, forever trying to “get back on its calf.”

The movement of the vellum caused several problems. Because the scans took so long, the movement of the vellum often resulted in blurry images, especially near the end of the scan. These images either needed to be reshot, requiring additional time, or manipulated using software to be accurate representations of the original. The capture time also prevented multiple

production notes

shots of the gold, which are required to accurately capture the reflection of the gold.

The imaging of Historical Books folios, the fifth and the most recent volume to be imaged for the Heritage Edition, represented a major improvement in imaging technology. Historical Books was imaged using the latest in high-resolution, instant-capture technology. Instead of taking 20 minutes, each image capture took as little as a single second. This allowed the photographer wide latitude in selecting shots that captured the gold reflection and resulted in crystal clear

Ruth and Naomi, by Suzanne Moore, in Historical Books (Ruth 1:1- 1:22).

“The biggest change we noticed in printing the first pages of Historical Books for the Heritage Edition was the level of detail in the insects, arachnids, and flora.”

Craig Bruner, The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program director of operations

images that were easy to color correct and manipulate to more accurately reflect the original pages.

“The biggest change we noticed in printing the first pages of Historical Books for the Heritage Edition was the level of detail in the insects, arachnids and flora,” said Craig Bruner, The Saint John’s

Bible Heritage Program director of operations. “In the past, we had to go back to the originals to make certain that all of the fine detail was there. With the new camera technology, the detail leapt off the printed pages!”

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Heritage Edition staff began shipping Pentateuch volumes to subscribers in June. This is the fourth of seven volumes to be delivered. Early response to

Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), has been enthusiastic, especially when comparing Pentateuch’s Creation illumination to the original work.

“As one of the most recognizable images from The Saint John’s Bible, it is exciting to see viewers’ positive reactions,” said Craig Bruner, operations director for The Saint

John’s Bible Heritage Edition. According to Bruner, the Pentateuch volume deserves the reception it is receiving

because of three treatments unique to this volume. First, gold has been applied over a colored background to create the same effect as the original work (Creation). This process has not been a part of previous illuminations. Second, it is the first time that silver ink has been used to recreate the look of the very subtle silver application in the original work (Adam and Eve). Finally, on the Jacob’s Ladder illumination, relief has been added to the application of the gold to recreate the multilayered look of the burnished gold that is present in many of the illuminations in The Saint John’s Bible.

“Donald Jackson’s art direction was instrumental in pushing the boundaries of printed art to create these images,” Bruner said. “There is no better place to showcase these unique artistic touches than in Pentateuch.” In addition to Creation, Adam and Eve and Jacob’s Ladder, Pentateuch includes other prominent illuminations: Garden of Eden, Abraham and Sarah, the Ten Commandments and the Death of Moses.

Pentateuch Ships to Subscribers, Showcases New Artistic Treatments

production notes

Adam and Eve is one of the prominent illuminations in Pentateuch. Silver ink was used for the first time in printing this volume to recreate the look of a silver application in the original illumination.

Special Collections, continued from page 3

Scholarship/Research: The Raynor Memorial Libraries hopes to work with the office of mission and ministry, theology department faculty and other academic departments to find creative ways of incorporating The Saint John’s Bible into the curricula.

Exhibition/Display: The Saint

John’s Bible enhances several aspects of the Marquette University Libraries’ rare books and manuscripts acquisitions program. Marquette preserves a small but significant collection of incunabula that will pair nicely with the Heritage Edition, including a gorgeously illustrated German Bible by Anton Koberger, printed in Nuremberg in 1483. Marquette also won a 1473 edition of St. Augustine’s De Civitate Dei (The City of God) from the presses of Gutenberg’s successors in Mainz. They plan on showcasing these and other rare volumes alongside the Heritage Edition. The fine art edition will be on display in the Alumni Memorial Union during Mission Week (week of Feb. 6, 2010). More opportunities are being explored to display the Bible appropriately at other university events.

See next page for an interview with

Santa Clara University’s Head of

Archives & Special Collections.

SCU was one of the first universities

to receive a fine art edition of

The Saint John’s Bible.

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After first seeing the Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible on exhibition at the Tacoma Art Museum in 2008, Tita Crilly Diepenbrock, widow

Diepenbrock, knew she wanted the fine art edition of The Saint John’s Bible at Santa Clara University (SCU)for viewing and for educational purposes.

Nearly two years after the Bible first arrived on campus we asked Deborah Whiteman, SCU’s head of Archives & Special Collections, to tell us how the Bible is being shared as Mrs. Diepenbrock envisioned and about “Scribes, Saints and Scholars,” an exhibition underway at the university library.

from our own special collections and to do what we hope will be an educational exhibit. The Saint John’s Bible in both of its forms — first, as a unique manuscript written on vellum, and second, as a finely printed book (the Heritage Edition) — offers rich material to mine. The Saint John’s Bible is descended in a direct line from the giant manuscript Bibles of the 12th and 13th centuries, illuminated Books of Hours of the 14th century, and the great printed Bibles from Gutenberg to the present. We want to show some of this fascinating history.

Q How does this fit into your vision for your library?

A No book has been written about or printed more often than the Bible — there's a great deal to say! And being

a Catholic university, we have some interesting things in our collections to show — such as Bibles from the original Santa Clara Mission Library.

Members of the Santa Clara University community have been very generous about contributing Bibles and related Biblical materials for this exhibit. Along with the Library's own materials, we will be showing some fine books and manuscripts on loan from these private collections — and from some of our sister institutions, such as the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and Mount Saint Mary's College in Los Angeles.

We will turn the pages weekly and change the volumes from time to time. The case will have drawers beneath the display lectern, which will house the other six volumes.

Q Would you describe the setting for Santa Clara University’s exhibition of the Heritage Edition?

A The exhibit is taking place in the Gallery adjacent to the Department of Archives & Special Collections, in

the Santa Clara University Library. The Library was built in 2008 — and the exhibit area is a large space — with state-of-the art exhibit cases, built of glass (or in some cases lucite) and wood. These are equipped with special low-candle museum lighting designed to protect the objects on display. The Gallery also has a wall track for hanging framed items and we will be borrowing and displaying eight framed Saint John’s Bible fine art prints to hang in this space.

Q What are the library’s goals for the exhibition?

A We are celebrating the presence of The Saint John’s

Bible at our institution. We have a Heritage Edition through the generosity of a donor and it has been a wonderful gift. Many university staff, students and members of the public have come to Archives & Special Collections to see it and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

SCU’s Department of Religious Studies has been particularly enthusiastic. For example, in July, at the request of the religious studies professors, we hosted two classes on The Saint John’s

Bible in Archives & Special Collections. Next year, 2011, also happens to be the 400th anniversary of

the King James Bible (this translation was completed in 1611 by a committee of 47 scholars), so the exhibit will also provide a bridge to that event.

And given the popularity of The Saint John’s Bible, we saw this as a good opportunity to display Bibles and related materials

“Scribes, Saints and Scholars” at SCU

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Deborah Whiteman, SCU Head of Archives & Special Collections holds a page from Psalms. Also pictured (l to r): Erin Louthen, SCU University Archivist, Steven Saum, editor of Santa Clara Magazine, and Alex Zarka, student assistant in Archives & Special Collections.

of 1951 Santa Clara University alumnus James

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noted and celebrated

Word, Image and Music Celebrated at St Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields hosted an evening celebrating The Saint John’s

Bible with music, word and images on Sept. 28. St Martin-in-the-Fields has on display the only Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible in the United Kingdom. The fine art edition was presented to the London Anglican church in June 2009.

St Martin-in-the-Fields, well-known for its musical tradition, architecture and welcoming attitude toward people from all faiths, celebrated The Saint John’s Bible with readings and music, reflecting the project’s mixture of the ancient and modern. Donald Jackson, artistic director of The Saint John’s Bible, participated in the celebration and read from both the Old and New Testaments. Jackson was joined by Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and Rev. Nicholas Holtam, vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Music sung by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields was selected by Director of Music Andrew Earis and included works on a Biblical theme. They were chosen, Earis says, for their “modern take on an ancient text which nicely complements the same duality in The Saint John’s Bible”.

Throughout the event the Bible’s striking contemporary images were projected against the arching Baroque brilliance of St Martin’s 18th century walls and windows. Visit http://tiny.cc/lt2mh to see more images.

Apostolic Blessing Upon Prophets and Psalms’ Arrival

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has received two more volumes: Prophets and Psalms. The latest gifts of the Saint Peter Apostles Edition of The Saint John’s

Bible were acknowledged in a letter to Abbot John Klassen, OSB, from the Apostolic Nunciature with an Apostolic Blessing. Archbishop Fernando Filoni wrote: “He (the Holy Father) wishes me once more to express his deep gratitude and to assure you and the monastic community of his close interest in this significant artistic and spiritual undertaking.” Archbishop Filoni also wrote: “His Holiness prays that this illuminated edition of the books of Psalms and the writing of the Prophets will lead to an ever greater appreciation of the treasures of wisdom, beauty and truth found in the word of God.”

Saint John’s Named Tekne Award Finalist

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) has named Saint John’s

University as a finalist for the 2010 Tekne Awards in the Technology Excellence in Higher Education or Non-profit Organization category. Saint John’s University was named as a finalist for the technology used to create the fine art reproduction of The Saint John’s Bible — one of the most innovative printing projects since Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century. Creating the Heritage Edition required the latest advancements in digital imaging, color science and ultra high resolution offset lithographic printing.

Recipients of the 2010 Tekne Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Nov. 3 in Minneapolis.

Website Wins Place in National Design Archives

The Saint John’s Bible website won a place in the AIGA Design Archives at its annual design competition. Of more than 2,300 entries, the website was selected along with 124 other pieces to represent examples of outstanding design from 2009. On average 8,000-10,000 visits are made to the Bible website per month. Visit saintjohns-bible.org to experience this award-winning presentation of the Bible.

An image of “To the Ends of the Earth” from Gospels & Acts is projected onto the east window at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. In the foreground, three volumes are displayed while the St Martin-in-the-Fields choir sings selected works with Biblical themes.

saintjohnsbible.org

Saint John’s University

Heritage Program

PO Box 7222

Collegeville, MN 56321

saintjohnsbible.org

Four years, almost to the date, since “Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible” opened at the Library of Congress, the

Bible returns to the nation’s capitol. Four volumes of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible will be on display at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Memorial Hall in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 11, 2010, to Jan. 21, 2011. The Basilica staff plans to change the pages according to the liturgical calendar.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America, and is one of the 10 largest churches in the world. On Nov. 4, Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB, will offer a special presentation on The Saint John’s Bible at 7 p.m. in the Basilica’s Memorial Hall. To reserve a seat, call 320 363 2611 or email Kerry Werlinger at kwerlinger@csbsju.edu.

To see a complete listing of Saint John’s Bible events, visit.saintjohnsbible.org and click on “See the Bible.”

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

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You can also follow the journey of The Saint John’s Bible on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Regular updates, advance notices of new publications and photos of new illuminations can all be found on these social media sites.

Basilica of the National Shrine, Washington, D.C., Exhibits Heritage Edition

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.