Rare illuminated Bible coming to Arkansas this year

Volume of Saint John’s Bible will travel to Catholic hospitals for display throughout 2018

Published: January 13, 2018

CNS / Bob Roller

This is a page from one of seven books that make up the heritage edition of The Saint John’s Bible. Heritage editions are replicas produced by Liturgical Press of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minn.

CNS / Bob Roller

See the Light

The volume of Arts and the Gospels of the Saint John’s Bible will tour Arkansas throughout 2018.

• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, Jan. 9-March 14

Mercy will host an interfaith prayer service at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 in the hospital’s St. Edward Chapel with additional seating in Hennessey Education Center. Beginning Jan. 9, the Bible will be displayed in a case at different locations in the main hospital. Pages will be turned at various times throughout the stay. In addition, it will be displayed at Mercy Orthopedic Hospital, Mercy Tower West and Mercy’s four hospitals in Ozark, Paris, Booneville and Waldron. During certain hours the Bible is on display, Bible mentors will be available to supervise visitors while they handle the book and turn pages.
A closing ceremony is planned for 2 p.m. March 14 in the Hennessey Education Room at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith.

Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Medical Building lobby, 2-5 p.m. Sunday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Mentors available 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday; and 2-5 p.m. Sundays Exceptions are Jan. 17, 24 and 31; Feb. 5-7, Feb. 15, and Feb. 23-25. Church groups are especially welcome for Sunday viewings.

Mercy Hospital Fort Smith Main Entrance lobby, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mentors available 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Fridays. Exceptions are Feb. 16 and Feb. 23-24

Mercy Orthopedic Hospital, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 5-6. Mentors available 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.

Mercy Tower West, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 15-16. Mentors available 9:30 -10:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.

• Mercy Hospital Waldron, Jan. 17, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Mercy Hospital Booneville, Jan. 24, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Mercy Hospital Paris, Jan. 31, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Mercy Hospital Ozark, Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

• Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas, Rogers, March 15-May 31

• St. Bernards Medical Center, Jonesboro, June and July

• CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, Little Rock, August to December

Specific dates were not provided by the hospitals in Jonesboro and Little Rock.

Four Catholic health ministries are bringing the Year of the Saint John’s Bible to Arkansas in recognition of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Little Rock.

The Bible will travel to Catholic hospitals in Fort Smith, Rogers, Jonesboro and Little Rock, with each location hosting programs for employees, physicians and the public. In addition, the programs will connect with schools and parishes so they may encounter the first hand-illuminated Bible in 500 years.

The project will also pay tribute to the great work of the diocese in advancing encounters with Scripture through the Little Rock Scripture Study and other formation.

“The Saint John’s Bible is meant to inspire the religious imagination of people,” said Jared Bryson, vice president of mission for Mercy in Chesterfield, Mo. “It’s a book of the Church, by the Church and for the Church.”

How it started

The Saint John’s Bible was commissioned by the Benedictine monks of St. John Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn., in 1998 and was completed in 2011. The original manuscript of seven volumes remains at St. John University, but 299 sets were created as a “Heritage Edition” for travel and display around the world.

The Saint John’s Bible was the vision of artist and calligrapher Donald Jackson, who led the international team that created every aspect of the manuscript.

The Saint John’s Bible incorporates many of the characteristics of its medieval predecessors: It was written on vellum, using quills, natural handmade inks, hand-ground pigments and gild such as gold leaf, silver leaf and platinum.

‘Book is alive’

Chad Raith, vice president of mission for Mercy Northwest Arkansas, said hosting the Bible fits with Mercy’s commitment to care for patients holistically: physically, emotionally and spiritually.

“We are excited about the privilege of having the Bible here in northwest Arkansas,” he said. “One thing that unites Christians of all stripes — Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant — is our common dependence on the Bible for God’s wisdom, guidance and consolation.”

Martin Schreiber, vice president of mission for Mercy Fort Smith, said the presence of the Bible will give communities a chance to discuss the role of Scripture in faith traditions.

“I think having a dialogue around this Bible is important,” he said. “I think it allows us to see God. The Book is alive; it’s not dead. The word of God is alive and full of color.”