WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 30, NO. 10 OCTOBER 10, 2008
L’Osservatore Romano
PAPAL STAMP OF APPROVAL
Gerald Rauenhorst, Papal Foundation board member (left), looks on as Pope Benedict XVI pages through one of the volumes of The Saint John’s Bible, the first handcrafted Bible in 500 years. The work was undertaken with the assistance of two nuns from the archdiocese.
ILLUMINATED Sisters help craft the first handmade Bible in 500 years STORY BY JOE BOLLIG
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TCHISON — In the beginning was the Word. And it was always all about the word for Sister Irene Nowell, OSB. But her work on The Saint John’s Bible — the first handcrafted, illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine monastery in more than 500 years — changed her mind. “Before it was always the words,” said Sister Irene, past president of the Catholic Biblical Association, but now she is “beginning to appreciate [Scripture] more through images.” As a nationally known Scripture scholar, the substance
of Sister Irene’s work is the meaning of words and language used in the Bible. The stunning and whimsical images in The St. John’s Bible, however, offered such a different perspective that some surprised even an expert like her. One such example is the illustration for the raising of Lazarus, as told in the Gospel of John. “This is Lazarus,” said Sister Irene, pointing to a dark figure in a cave, “and this is Jesus,” pointing to a tiny figure framed by the tomb’s round opening. “[In this illumination] we are in the tomb with Lazarus,” she continued. “Every time I heard this Gospel reading, I [imagined myself] standing outside the tomb with Jesus Turn to SAINT JOHN’S BIBLE on page 16
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3 CELEBRATING 150
THRIVING
‘Mother church’ of Wyandotte County celebrates its 150th anniversary.
St. Matthew Parish raises funds for a new parish hall in less than a year.
MILKWEED AND BUTTERFLIES This decoration appears between the shorter and longer ending of the Gospel of Mark. Chris Tomlin, a natural history illustrator, collaborated with Donald Jackson to create the butterflies and milkweed.
A NEW BEGINNING The Leaven redesigns its pages, and launches a new Web site. Now we need your help to make them better.
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