As the final weeks of summer fade and autumn invites us to sink back into our routines, many parishes, academic institutions, and organizations of all kinds are beginning to make plans for the fall semester of life.
To help you reignite your programming regarding The Saint John’s Bible (or simply to feed your individual curiosity) here is a multitude of online resources that your community can use to share the experience of The Saint John’s Bible and the Heritage Edition far and wide.
We hope you enjoy this collection and share it with others interested in The Saint John’s Bible.
Creation of The Saint John’s Bible
The Calligrapher: This video serves as a wonderful introduction to Donald Jackson, Artistic Director of The Saint John’s Bible and former Senior Scribe and Illuminator at the Crown Office in the House of Lords.
Interview: Donald Jackson, calligrapher: The Church Times, a weekly newspaper based in London, England, sat down with Donald Jackson, Artistic Director of The Saint John’s Bible to discuss attending art school starting at just 13 years old, referencing contemporary life in The Saint John’s Bible, the greatest aim of any calligrapher, and more.
The OLV Podcast: Listen to Father David of OLV Charities in Lackawanna, New York, in conversation with Rev. Dr. John F. Ross, Executive Director of the Heritage Program, on the November 2023 episode of the OLV podcast.
WCCO: Minnesotans Deliver One-of-a-Kind Bible to England: This segment introduces The Saint John’s Bible 25th Anniversary Dedication Tour featuring Executive Director of the Heritage Program, The Rev. Dr. John F. Ross.
From Inspiration to Illumination: Not long after the Library of Congress received an Apostles Edition of The Saint John’s Bible in 2016, Tim Ternes, Director of The Saint John’s Bible, gave a presentation at the Library or Congress. He discussed the processes, tools, methods and materials behind the making of The Saint John’s Bible.
The Church Alive: This series by Salt + Light Media highlights the broad and inclusive nature of Catholicism by sharing perspectives and stories on the New Evangelization in the Church today. This segment of the show profiles The Saint John’s Bible as an example of the new evangelization in action.
Experience the Word
Seeing the Word: Lectio divina – divine reading – is a contemplative approach to reading Scripture. Seeing the Word adds a visual element to this transformative practice using illuminations from The Saint John’s Bible.
Liturgical Press: The Liturgical Press provides printed resources on The Saint John’s Bible, including books, prints, and other media.
Visio Divina: The Crucifixion by the University of Portland: This 15-minute contemplative prayer experience leads you through St. Luke’s account of the Crucifixion, supported by quiet harp music by Maureen Briare, and Donald Jackson’s Crucifixion illumination from The Saint John’s Bible.
Heritage Edition Locations: There are nearly 200 Heritage Editions of The Saint John’s Bible located in universities, churches, hospitals, homes, and more across the world, many of which are open to the public. Here is a list of every location so you can find one near you. Bonus: View this blog article for a perfectly mapped out summer road trip to locations where you can find a Heritage Edition across the United States.
The Heritage Edition and Program
The Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible is the primary way that we bring the work of sacred art and Scripture to communities across the world of all faith journeys.
The Heritage Program Blog: Every month, the Heritage Program publishes three new stories about the The Saint John’s Bible, how the Heritage Edition lives today, and more. Dive into our rich collection of stories to read how the work impacts people of all faith journeys daily.
E-Newsletter: Sharing the Word: This monthly epistle compiles each new blog story as well as updates, livestreams, new stewards, and more. Subscribe to receive this small gift from us to you in your inbox once every month.
Video Gallery: The story of The Saint John’s Bible has been told many times and, in many ways, it will continue to be told for centuries. One of those ways is through the library of videos that you’ll find on our video page.
News Page: Visit the Heritage Program’s News page for access to media kits and recent articles, news segments, and more that have featured The Saint John’s Bible.
Social Media: Follow @saintjohnsbible on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook/Meta for live updates on the Heritage Program.
Digital Illuminations:Stewards of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition gain access to digital versions of many of the illuminations found in the Heritage Edition. If you are a steward who wishes to gain access to this digital library, fill out this simple form or contact Meghan Stretar at mestretar@csbsju.edu.
KJZZ Phoenix: Arizona Bookbinding Shop Produces Exquisite Bible: At the back of every Heritage Edition, you’ll find a name in small print: Roswell Bookbinding. Listen to Mike Roswell, President of Roswell Bookbinding discuss the process of binding the Heritage Editions.
PBS Off 90 – Austin Public Library: In 2013, PBS Off 90 told the story of how one small town library is sharing The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition.
IFCU Webinar: A Conversation with a Saint John’s Bible Steward: The Heritage Program’s very own Meghan Stretar had the chance to join Nicolas Vergier, IFCU Partnerships Manager and Carolyn Pirtle, Program Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, to discuss how the University of Notre Dame has used the Heritage Edition to ignite the spiritual imagination on campus and throughout the South Bend, Indiana, where the university is located.
PBS NewsHour: The Saint John’s Bible was featured on a PBS NewsHour story that told the tale of the project’s creation, and now, its life. As the first handwritten manuscript crafted since the invention of the printing press, The Saint John’s Bible unites people of all faith journeys with its immaculate artistry and painstaking craft.
Illuminated Encounters, University of Wisconsin: On April 27th, 2018, the Department of Special Collections at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Libraries welcomed Jim Triggs, former 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.
Benedictine Resources
Connecting the Benedictine Tradition of Preserving Ancient Texts and The Saint John’s Bible: The roots of The Saint John’s Bible began far before its commissioning in 1998 and even before the childhood dream of Artistic Director Donald Jackson to handwrite the Bible. The ancient tradition of manuscript writing can, in fact, be traced back to the Rule of Benedict itself – conceived and written by Benedict of Nursia, known as the “Father of Western Monasticism” at Sacro Speco cera 529 AD. For anyone curious about this history, this blog article traces these roots from ancient times to modern day.
Fr. Don’s Daily Reflection: Fr. Don Talmous, OSB, of Saint John’s Abbey has a large following of long-time subscribers who read his reflections each day. We invite you to subscribe.
A Monk’s Chronicle: Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB, has been a spokesperson for The Saint John’s Bible since the project began in 1998. His weekly blog provides a Benedictine perspective on life in all its mundanity and extravagance in equal measure.
Benedictine Institute’s “Listen…”: The Benedictine Institute’s mission is to strengthen and articulate the Benedictine character. “Listen” is the very first word in the Rule of Saint Benedict. Three times per week, “Listen…” emails a very simple message to help us keep focused on those things in life that provide meaning.
What’s Next?
Be sure to subscribe to the Heritage Program e-newsletter and follow our social media channels to be the first to know of new resources that will be releases in the upcoming months.