The Saint John ’ s Bible : Illuminated Encounters
By Haley Griffith and Natasha Veeser
Jim Triggs , Ed Van Gemert , and Dick Cable .
The Saint John ’ s Bible is the first handwritten illuminated Bible of its scale in over 500 years . In April 2018 , the Department of Special Collections at the University of Wisconsin – Madison Libraries welcomed Jim Triggs , Executive Director of The Saint John ’ s Bible Heritage Program , for a special talk that showcased the extraordinary endeavor of creating The Saint John ’ s Bible . The UW – Madison Libraries recently had a copy of the Bible donated by Dick Cable , UW Alumnus Class of ’ 55 , on behalf of the Dick and Marlene Cable Family Fund .
“ This event was a wonderful opportunity to learn about and celebrate one of the great acts of book-making of our time ,” said David Pavelich , Director of Special Collections & Archives at UW – Madison . “ Collaboratively crafted , contemporary in its aesthetics , and ecumenical in its approach , The Saint John ’ s Bible is the kind of spiritual work our society very much needs now .”
Beginning in 1998 , Saint John ’ s University ( MN ) commissioned Donald Jackson , senior scribe to Queen Elizabeth II , to lead a team of calligraphers and artists to create a Bible for the 21st Century . Smithsonian Magazine called The Saint John ’ s Bible “ One of the extraordinary undertakings of our time .”
For the past 10 years , Triggs and his colleagues at Saint John ’ s University have worked with organizations across a wide range of faith traditions to bring The Saint John ’ s Bible Heritage Edition to communities around the world . “ Illuminated Encounters ” offers an appreciation of how this Bible lives up to its mission “ to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world of all faith journeys .”
“ It ’ s a work that truly can bring people and faiths together ,” explained Pavelich .
Like the illuminated voiceprints in the Psalms volume , which celebrate the intersections of diverse cultures , there have been many “ illuminated encounters ” along this Bible ’ s journey : a late-night impromptu exhibition at a McDonald ’ s on the Southside of Chicago , a North Dakota teen who insisted on seeing the Bible after chemo treatments at Mayo , a lesson taught by a Jewish man when discussing the Death of Moses illumination , and a blessing of the Bible by a representative of a local Muslim community .
“ In addition to thanking Jim for presenting this special event , we also extend our tremendous thanks to the generosity of our friend Dick Cable ,” noted Pavelich . “ Because of him , the UW – Madison Libraries are fortunate to have one of these amazing Bibles in our collection .”
14 | LIBRARIES Fall 2018