Rochester, Minnesota –In spaces that inhabit both the healed and the sick, people can experience some of the most challenging human emotionsall at once — pain, grief, loss — but in the midst of these emotions also lies an overwhelmingpresence of faith, hope,healing, and human connection. Particularly in institutions whose central mission is to care and to heal, these deep-cutting and entirely hopeful experiences exist in tandem, cohabitating inspaces such as the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic, an academic medical center headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, is known worldwide for its unmatched expertise in the field of healthcare. The Mayo network consistently places among the top-ranked hospitals nationwide and makes competitive advances in medical research. Known for a patient-centered approach that fosters empathy and compassion and a model of care that places collaboration across specialties at the forefront of its work, people from around the world travel to the Mayo Clinic to receive cutting-edge healthcare.
In clinical and educational settings such as this, more than one medium of comfort and healing exists. There are many ways to support patients’ mental, physical, and spiritual well-being in times of great personal strife. This is the lens through which Anna Beth Morgan, M.L.S., M.S., AHIP, Executive Director of the Mayo Clinic Libraries, Archives, and Heritage Days, and others on her team view the presence of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible at the Mayo Clinic.
“The patients at Mayo Clinic are at an extraordinarily convoluted and challenging point in their lives. They’re facing a complex path towards healing that may be challenging for them, and for their loved ones, to understand,” said Morgan. “The art of The Saint John’s Bible partnered with the powerful text is a large part of providing a calming and comforting space for patients, as well as a beautiful opportunity to view these special volumes.”
In 2010, benefactors Stephen and Barbara Slaggie, both of whom are heavily involved in supporting clinical developments at Mayo and increasing cancer education across the board, generously gifted the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible. One of just 299 sets, the Heritage Edition offers an enriched experience for Mayo Clinic visitors, igniting the spiritual imagination of those who spend time viewing the hand-crafted calligraphy and striking, full-page illustrations.
“The Heritage Edition has become a part of the Mayo DNA,” said Morgan. “It’s a companion to the doctors because there’s more to healing than medicine. There are many things that contribute to the healing process, and I think the spiritual side is an important part of that. The Saint John’s Bible takes the holistic approach; it contributes to full patient well-being. It can divert concern for a little while and give people some peace amongst the storm that life brings to everyone at different points of their life.”
The Heritage Edition first arrived at the Mayo Clinic Development Department to be displayed at Mayo facilities in Rochester, Minnesota, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, these volumes found new homes in Mayo Clinic buildings across the country, one of which being the Mayo Clinic Library.
“We have a number of very valuable and rare medical and scientific materials at the library — books that date back even as far as the 1400s, but handling The Saint John’s Bible required us to think differently about how we might partner with development and take over that responsibility for them,” said Morgan. “The display cases in which volumes are housed were created by our in-house team of carpenters. I’ve seen a lot of display cases as a librarian, but I have never seen any as beautifully designed as these are. It’s all to protect and maintain the care of the volumes. The librarians and archivists that manage the cases have been specially trained on the right handling of the Bible, so when they do open it and turn the pages, there’s a great deal of care provided,” said Morgan.
The Living Presence of Art
At the Mayo Clinic, art is just as integral to the space as the people who inhabit it. When people enter a hospital to receive needed medical care or visit a loved one, they can experience a lot of heaviness and uncertainty. One of the ways Mayo Clinic supports people through this feeling is with the abundance of art displayed in the buildings. The Saint John’s Bible volumes are part of this collection of art, the volumes often resting near other pieces that also provide great comfort, or even distraction, for passersby.
“It’s hard to walk through Mayo Clinic and not see incredible art hanging on the walls or displayed in cases. There is so much value in having different kinds of art all throughout the hospital space,” said Morgan. “There are Andy Warhol pieces, and there are grand pianos spread throughout the buildings, and there are The Saint John’sBible volumes, which are nothing like anything I’ve ever witnessed. It’s such a powerful text and piece of art, and it’s freely available for people to view and spend time with. It’s an amazing experience for people because of the combination of the vibrant colors of the art and the great historical text. Art has a healing component, and it’s an important companion in the process of seeking better health.”
The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible currently resides in Mayo Clinic buildings throughout the United States in hospitals and educational spaces, allowing the impact of the volumes to reach many different people in many different phases and stages of their lives. These volumes reside in locations often selected for patient-visitor traffic. The volumes have been placed near large cafeterias or in main lobby areas of the different buildings. Collectively, these spaces are known to be the heart of the Mayo Clinic Buildings.
Volume One, Pentateuch, resides on the concourse level of the Mayo Clinic building in Arizona.
Volume two, Historical Books, was installed at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida campus.
Volume Three, Wisdom Books, sits in the lobby area in the Francis Tower of the Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
Volume Four, Psalms, and Volume Six, Gospels & Acts, were placed in the Plummer Building’s History of Medicine Library, located in Rochester, Minnesota.
Volume Five, Prophets, is displayed in the Hall of Benefactors in the Siebens Building in the Hage Atrium.
Volume Seven, Letters and Revelation, is located on the main lobby of the Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
For a full list of locations across the world where an edition of The Saint John’s Bible resides, visit the Locations page on https://heritage.saintjohnsbible.org/.
The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition: Aiding in Comfort and Care
To learn more about The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition, visit this page.
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