Experience the Beauty of The Saint John's Bible
May 2, 2026 6:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Location: Saint Catherine of Siena Church and Student Center, 1150 28th Street, Des Moines, Iowa
Looking to extend your Easter joy? Hoping to deepen your engagement with God’s Word and Jesus’ call? Experience the beauty and inspiration of The Saint John’s Bible at St. Catherine of Siena Church and Student Center (1150 28th St., Des Moines) on Saturday, May 2, 6:30 p.m., when Benedictine Brother David Paul Lange,a monk of St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, presents Igniting Your Spiritual Imagination: An Introduction to The Saint John’s Bible. Participants will have the opportunity to view all seven volumes of the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible, loaned to St. Catherine’s by Chuck and Janet Haas of Des Moines. The one-hour presentation will be followed by a reception.
The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten, illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in over 500 years. Called “one of the extraordinary undertakings of our time” by Smithsonian Magazine, it has been displayed at major museums and houses of worship throughout the world. Brother David Paul Lange is a former professor of art and art history at St. John’s University, is currently a member of the monastic community’s Vocations Team, faculty resident, practicing artist, and an engaging and sought-after speaker. Brother David Paul served as a member of the Committee on Illumination and Text for The Saint John’s Bible, a group of theologians, artists, and scholars who were responsible for overseeing the artistic content and theological accuracy of The Saint John’s Bible.