O'Grady Library helps celebrate Pope Francis's visit to the United States

In an effort coordinated by the Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota, the O'Grady Library at Saint Martin's University is participating in the "Illuminating the Mission: 7 Pages-7 Days" project to celebrate the historic first visit of Pope Francis to the United States.  In this effort, institutions that hold and display copies of the Saint John's Bible will display for seven days the same page and have a common brief reflection on the image featured on each page as a gesture of unity.

Rev. Michael Patella, OSB, of the Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary said, "These particular Illuminations were specifically chosen because they resonate with values Pope Francis holds dear: hospitality; concern for the poor, sick, and marginalized; the dignity of all people; and care for creation."

SMU's copy of the Saint John's Bible in the entry way of the O'Grady Library

The final volume of the of the Saint John's Bible was recently presented to Pope Francis in April.  Abbot John Klassen, OSB, of Saint John's Abbey reported that the Pope reacted to the illumination of the Vision of the New Jerusalem by "[lifting] his hands with a smile on his face in a gesture of joy and appreciation."1  The volumes are a contemporary illuminated Bible that were commissioned by Saint John's Abbey and University in 1998.

The 7 Pages-7 Days effort will feature illuminations for passages in in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Matthew, Mark, and the Acts of the Apostles.  If you are interested in seeing SMU's copy of The Saint John's Bible or have any questions about it, please contact Fr. Peter Tynan, University Chaplin and Archivist: Fr_Peter@stmartin.edu.

A list of participating institutions includes:

Assumption College - MA	Loyola Notre Dame Library - MD
Azusa Pacific University - CA	Loyola University Chicago - IL
Baptist Theological Seminary - VA	Malone University p OH
Berea College	Molloy College - NY
Brigham Young University - UT	Mount Marty College - SD
Carson Newman College - TN	Mount Saint Mary College - NY
Cathedral Church of St. John - AZ	Mount St. Benedict Monastery - Website
Cathedral of Christ the Light - CA	Saint Agnes Medical Center - CA
Chaminade University - HI	Saint John's University - MN
College of Saint Mary - NE	Saint Martin’s University - WA
Creighton University - NE	St Mary's University College - Canada
Edgewood College - WI	Saint Catherine University - MN
Fairfield University - CT	St. Hubert Catholic Community - MN
Franciscan Renewal Center - AZ	St. John's Cathedral - CO
George Fox University - OR	St. Mary's College - IN
Gonzaga University - WA	Saint Peter's University - NJ
Gustavus Adolphus College - MN	University of Dayton - OH
Holy Family Catholic High School - MN	University of Mary - ND
Houston Baptist University - TX	University of Minnesota - MN
John Carroll University - OH	University of Portland  OR
La Roche College - PA	Xavier University - OH
Loyola Marymount University – CA

1. See "His Holiness Pope Francis Received Final Volume of The Saint John's Bible at the Vatican" on The Saint John's Bible website: http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/promotions/lp/francis/