This week’s glimpse into the wonders of The Saint John’s Bible is so much more than a glimpse: the Garaventa Center has created three portals for you to explore these lustrous volumes: one takes you into the process of making the first hand-calligraphed and illuminated Bible manuscript since Gutenberg; another offers short (1-2 minute) videos of specific illuminations with instrumental music; the final is a door into several stand-alone experiences of Visio Divina contemplative prayer focused on these sacred images and Scriptural text (about 15 minutes each).
St. John's Bible
A Moment of Beauty For the Week
Spend a minute and a half taking in the beauty of this illumination of Jacob’s Ladder from UP’s Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible: no words, just quiet music and a chance to breathe and simply BE for a moment of your teeming day. Click here for the video link.
A Weekly Moment of Beauty: “Garden of Eden”
For a moment of beauty with one of UP’s great treasures, The Saint John’s Bible, click here for an 85-second video of the Garden of Eden illumination. No words, just quiet music with a lustrous image. Check this space each week for a link to another image, courtesy of the Garaventa Center.
A Weekly Moment of Beauty
Of course we miss UP’s people the most during these days of remote everything, but also the many chances to freely witness beauty on our campus. Beginning today, the Garaventa Center will post a link each week to an 85-second movie featuring one of the lustrous illuminations from UP’s great treasure, The Saint John’s Bible. The art is diverse and inclusive, and the experience is simply one of beholding something beautiful…there’s no narration; simply breathe, behold, and BE for a minute and a half. Click here for this week’s illumination, “Creation.”
Advent Visio Divina: A Time of Peaceful Quiet
All members of the community are invited to step aside from holiday madness for 25 minutes of a silent prayer form known as Visio Divina, “sacred seeing,” in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher following the noon Mass, about 12:35-1 p.m., on Thursday, December 12. This ancient contemplative form of prayer asks only our quiet presence as we are guided through an experience of a sacred image from our illuminated Saint John’s Bible. Sponsored by the Office of Campus Ministry and the Garaventa Center. Contact Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu) with any questions.
Become a Docent for The Saint John’s Bible
One of UP’s great treasures is our Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible, the first hand calligraphed and illuminated bible text crafted in over 500 years. It serves as a tremendous resource for courses and prayer experiences on campus. If you would like to receive training in the proper handling of the texts, an overview of the whole manuscript and digital access to the 100-plus illuminations, you are welcome to attend one of two training sessions: Tuesday, October 1, at 4 p.m., or Monday, October 7, at 9:30 a.m. Both will be held in the Clark Library classroom, and the material in both sessions will be the same.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu) in the Garaventa Center.