St. John's Bible Gallery -- Collegeville, Minn.

Destination: The first handwritten, hand-illuminated Bible in five centuries, the St. John’s Bible brought together a team of 23 artists in Wales and a team of scholars in Minnesota for a project 11 years in the making.

Traditionally, religious art in the Church taught the faith to all, even those who could not read. Following that tradition, the project of Minnesota’s St. John’s Abbey and St. John’s University was made to appeal to visual learners and “ignite the spiritual imagination of people in terms of Scripture,” as Benedictine Abbot John Klassen puts it. 

Original folios from the Bible are held in a lower-level gallery of Alcuin Library, which is open Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays are open noon-4 p.m. from June 11-Dec. 10. Email Tim Ternes at tternes@csbsju.edu to reserve a guided tour. 

Photos: Top — An illuminated page of Proverbs illustrates Prv. 9:1: “Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn her seven pillars.” (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Middle — The opening illumination of Genesis uses gold to show God’s ordering of the universe and its elements. ((Photos/ The Saint John’s Bible)

Bottom — This illumination depicts the woman “clothed with the sun” in Rev. 12:1-17. 

Why to go: British calligrapher Donald Jackson dreamed of creating a handwritten, illuminated Bible as a child. In 1995, while serving as a scribe for Queen Elizabeth’s Crown Office, he spoke to Father Eric Hollas, OSB, about his idea. 

Jackson led and directed the team of artists in combining modern layout technology; traditional tools and materials including calfskin vellum, feather quills and egg tempera; and imagery from both biblical and modern times. The result is a rich illustration of both Church history and modern times — a “living document.” 

Admission: There is no admission fee for self-guided tours; donations of $5 are suggested for guided tours and presentations. Parking is available in Science Lot 1 or near the Abbey Church on campus. 

Accessibility: All levels of the library are wheelchair-accessible. 

(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course! Jackson says that he fell in love with calligraphy as a nine-year-old. Who knows where inspiration might lead young visitors?  

Info: Address — Alcuin Library, 2850 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville, Minn.  

Phone — 320-363-3351 

Website — https://saintjohnsbible.org/Home/Index

— Megan Peterson compiled this story and referenced CNS articles written by Laura Ieraci and Joseph Young. Send Destination ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org

The Basilica of St. Mary - Minneapolis, Minn.

(Courtesy The Basilica of Saint Mary archives) 

Destination: The Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis has the distinction of being one of the oldest basilicas in the U.S. It and Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna, N.Y., were both declared minor basilicas in 1926 by Pope Pius XI.
Masses are offered weekdays at 7 a.m. and noon on the basilica’s ground level, St. Joseph’s Chapel; Saturdays at 5 p.m.; Sundays at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m., 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Photos -- (Left) Exterior of the Basilica of St. Mary; (Below left) Interior of basilica.
Why to go: The building was designed by the French architect Emmanuel Masqueray in the beaux-arts style.The exterior was completed between 1907 and 1915, and the interior begun in 1922. It was not quite finished when it was declared a basilica on Feb. 1, 1926.
Marble statues of the Apostles around the sanctuary were carved in Italy and are half-size replicas of the ones in St. John Lateran Cathedral of Rome.
In the 1950s, the basilica added a Wicks organ and installed eight double bronze doors cast by the Flour City Ornamental Iron Company of Minneapolis. The doors have symbols of the Apostles and Evangelists, and the coats-of-arms of the archbishops and popes who were key to the basilica’s development.

(Courtesy The Basilica of Saint Mary archives)

In 1975, the basilica was named to the National Register of Historic Places. On its website, the basilica lists three reasons it was nominated for this honor:
“Firstly, it exemplifies great design in architecture and engineering. ...
“Secondly, the Basilica is a testimonial to the religious movements and their roles in the development of Minnesota’s heritage.
“And, thirdly, the building was the first such church to be proclaimed a basilica in the United States.”
Later restorations involved areas of the basilica, the copper dome and roof.
Accessibility: The website says the basilica has access for all. For details, check the website’s Visit Us page.
(Grand) Kid friendly: As long as the kids know their church manners, they will be fine.
Info: Address — 1600 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone — 612-333-1381
Website — www.mary.org

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org