Pope Francis, the current and 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, is currently embarking on a historic journey to the United States which began on Sept. 28. In celebration, anticipation, and preparation a week prior to the Pope’s visit, institutions all around the world joined together in a rather metaphorical way – the 7 Days, 7 Pages Event. Every day from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28, the seven days leading up to Pope Francis’ arrival, each of these institutions displayed a different page representing key scriptures and illustrations from the Saint John’s Bible. Saint Leo University was one of these institutions.
“This simple act of displaying the same pages across the country by churches, schools, libraries, hospitals, and homes…will bring together people from across the country in communion with God in the days leading up to and during Pope Francis’ visit,” reads the Saint John’s Bible official website.
According to the Saint John’s Bible official website, the Saint John’s Bible is the result of a “15 year collaboration of scripture scholars and theologians” from around the world. The Bible itself is a significant presence as both a work of art representing divine, religious inspiration, and as a labor of love from countless dedicated individuals. Filled with handwritten scriptures and detailed illustrations, the Saint John’s Bible aims for a more contemplative and mesmerizing effect on its readers. With its roots in Saint John’s University and Abbey, located in Minnesota, this contemporary Bible was originally completed in 2008, with various volumes and editions being made.
“The Saint John’s Bible…is the first handwritten illuminated text of the Bible from a Benedictine abbey since roughly the 15th Century,” said Stephen Okey, Assistant Professor of Religion.
Saint Leo University, for its 125th Anniversary Year, received two volumes of the Saint John’s Bible on loan: “Pentateuch” (the first five books of the Old Testament) and “Gospel & Acts” (the gospels and acts by John, Luke, Mark, and Matthew). These two volumes together are designated as part of the “Heritage Edition,” which, according to Professor Carol Ann Moon, Reference and Instructional Outreach Librarian, is “a full-sized facsimile (copy) of the [official]Saint John’s Bible.” These two massive volumes, each one over 1,150 pages long, are currently on display in the entrance lobby of the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library, despite the end of the 7 Days, 7 Pages event on Sept. 28.
The “Heritage Edition” is not the only version of the Saint John’s Bible; other institutions received and displayed different versions. For example, the Library of Congress (the first federal cultural institution in the United States) received the “Apostles Edition” of the Saint John’s Bible, a gift which, according to the Saint John’s Bible official website, was given during Pope Francis’ visit to the library. This edition, which is one of twelve in existence, will be displayed in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. from Sept. 26 to Jan. 2 of next year.
The Saint John’s Bible is undoubtedly characterized as a symbol of history, faith, and unity; a perfect representation of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. Saint Leo University’s connection to the Pope and his beliefs will be immortalized by the Saint John’s Bible, and the 7 Days, 7 Pages event.
“It’s a small, yet beautiful gesture of the many institutions who proudly display the St. John’s illuminated Bibles. Not only did many schools, including Saint Leo University send students, staff and faculty to see the Pope on his trip, others were able to show other signs of solidarity and celebration of the historic event,” said Randall Woodard, Department Chair of Theology, Religion, and Philosophy.
Pope Francis, the current and 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, is currently embarking on a historic journey to the United States which began on Sept. 28. In celebration, anticipation, and preparation a week prior to the Pope’s visit, institutions all around the world joined together in a rather metaphorical way – the 7 Days, 7 Pages Event. Every day from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28, the seven days leading up to Pope Francis’ arrival, each of these institutions displayed a different page representing key scriptures and illustrations from the Saint John’s Bible. Saint Leo University was one of these institutions.
“This simple act of displaying the same pages across the country by churches, schools, libraries, hospitals, and homes…will bring together people from across the country in communion with God in the days leading up to and during Pope Francis’ visit,” reads the Saint John’s Bible official website.
According to the Saint John’s Bible official website, the Saint John’s Bible is the result of a “15 year collaboration of scripture scholars and theologians” from around the world. The Bible itself is a significant presence as both a work of art representing divine, religious inspiration, and as a labor of love from countless dedicated individuals. Filled with handwritten scriptures and detailed illustrations, the Saint John’s Bible aims for a more contemplative and began on Sept. 28. In celebration, anticipation, and preparation a week prior to the Pope’s visit, institutions all around the world joined together in a rather metaphorical way – the 7 Days, 7 Pages Event. Every day from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28, the seven days leading up to Pope Francis’ arrival, each of these institutions displayed a different page representing key scriptures and illustrations from the Saint John’s Bible. Saint Leo University was one of these institutions.
“This simple act of displaying the same pages across the country by churches, schools, libraries, hospitals, and homes…will bring together people from across the country in communion with God in the days leading up to and during Pope Francis’ visit,” reads the Saint John’s Bible official website.
According to the Saint John’s Bible official website, the Saint John’s Bible is the result of a “15 year collaboration of scripture scholars and theologians” from around the world. The Bible itself is a significant presence as both a work of art representing divine, religious inspiration, and as a labor of love from countless dedicated individuals. Filled with handwritten scriptures and det ailed illustrations, the Saint John’s Bible aims for a more contemplative and different versions. For example, the Library of Congress (the first federal cultural institution in the United States) received the “Apostles Edition” of the Saint John’s Bible, a gift which, according to the Saint John’s Bible official website, was given during Pope Francis’ visit to the library. This edition, which is one of twelve in existence, will be displayed in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. from Sept. 26 to Jan. 2 of next year.
The Saint John’s Bible is undoubtedly characterized as a symbol of history, faith, and unity; a perfect representation of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. Saint Leo University’s connection to the Pope and his beliefs will be immortalized by the Saint John’s Bible, and the 7 Days, 7 Pages event.
“It’s a small, yet beautiful gesture of the many institutions who proudly display the St. John’s illuminated Bibles. Not only did many schools, including Saint Leo University send students, staff and faculty to see the Pope on his trip, others were able to show other signs of solidarity and celebration of the historic event,” said Randall Woodard, Department Chair of Theology, Religion, and Philosophy.
