Michael F. Patella, OSB, SSD, is professor of New Testament at the School of Theology Seminary at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He is the author of Angels and Demons: A Christian Primer of the Spiritual World and Word and Image: The Hermeneutics of The Saint John’s Bible(Liturgical Press). He is a contributor to The Bible Today and Give Us This Day published by Liturgical Press.
In an age of fragmentation and specialization, two worlds-of word
and of image-have united to produce a thing of beauty: The Saint
John's Bible. The creation of a handwritten Bible, in a world
obsessed with speed made possible by ever-advancing technology,
seemed a profound waste of time, yet the project has captured the
imagination, not only of artists, but of all who have delighted in
the beauty of The Saint John's Bible. Now in Word and Image we are
led behind the scenes to delve into the theological underpinnings
that nurtured the artists who produced The Saint John's Bible. Word
and Image shows how the best of contemporary biblical
interpretation informed the artists as they created images that
reflect the biblical text for our day. It reveals how the
theological and spiritual dimensions involved in reading and
illuminating the biblical text can live in harmony, each building
on the other. By giving us a deeper look into the production of The
Saint John's Bible, Fr. Michael Patella enhances our appreciation
of this great work of art, but we also come away with a more
profound understanding of the Bible itself as a source of
theological and spiritual reflection.
Pauline A. Viviano Associate Professor of Theology, Loyola
University Chicago
Word and Image: The Hermeneutics of The Saint John's Bible is an
important text that comments and instructs upon the most essential
and influential book in the world. Although it requires careful and
prayerful thought, and will challenge some 'conservative' ideas,
Patella's text is essential reading for pastors, liturgists,
catechists, and anyone interested in how theology and arts
intersect.
The Very Rev. Dr. Donald P. Richmond, OblSB, CCS
Michael Patella focuses not on how The Saint John's Bible was made
but on how it can be read, viewed, and interpreted in a way that
respects biblical inspiration and Christian tradition in our
postmodern context. Patella considers this bible in the great
Christian tradition of illuminated Bibles across the ages and also
fascinating ways The Saint John's Bible reflects third-millennium
concerns.
Theological Studies
The Saint John's Bible is a magnificent memorial of two millennia
of Christianity. This volume by Fr. Michael Patella and his
collaborators provides a useful framework for understanding both
the project as a whole and the art that illuminates the Biblical
text. It will be of interest to anyone concerned with the
intersection of Scripture and the visual arts.
Harold W. Attridge Sterling Professor of Divinity Yale Divinity
School
Michael Patella's commentary explores the unparalleled artistry of
The Saint John's Bible from a theological perspective. Sensitive to
the written text, Patella relates the meaning of a passage to the
visual meditations of Donald Jackson and the other artists of The
Saint John's Bible. The commentary serves as an ideal introduction
to The Saint John's Bible; for those who develop a practice of
praying and studying with this luminous rendering of God's word,
the commentary will enrich their experience and make it evermore
"dynamic, challenging, and life-changing".
Dr. Richard J. Bautch, St. Edward's University
"Word and Image is grounded in solid scholarship but written with
hospitality toward the nonspecialist. Patella's commentary helps to
draw out some of the sometimes subtle aspects of The St. John's
Bible, such as the commitment to juxtapose the biblical text with
science without dismissing the observations of either. Patella
serves as a helpful and insightful guide to the project's
historical and hermeneutical foundations as well as to the Bible's
images."S. D. Giere, Review of Biblical Literature
Ask a Question About this Product More... |