Visual representations of chants from Benedictine, Native American, Muslim, Taoist and other traditions are the basis for illuminations of the Psalms. The varying pitch of the chants is rendered graphically to provide a motif for the abstract illumination. Every Psalm page features a small gold image that graphically renders the chanting of the monks from Saint John’s Abbey. This process of reading of the Psalms is a continuous reminder that the Psalms are to be sacred songs—and that in such singing God is present. Jackson chose colors to represent different themes, and designs to symbolize the different types of Psalms. He devised a way of weaving the two together that resulted in a unique script, colors and shading. Readers can identify the patterns representing the national history of Israel corresponding with the individual types of Psalms. The way the Psalms appear in The Saint John’s Bible provide a way to read our favorite Psalms with new eyes so that we might truly see the Psalms whether they are sung or read poetically.
Book Description
The second in a seven-volume series of full-color, page-by-page reproductions from The Saint John’s Bible, Psalms engages the eye and ear with five distinct scripts and exquisite illuminations that include digital voice prints of sacred songs from many ethnic and religious traditions. The Book of Psalms or "praises" is known as the prayer book of the Bible. For centuries, it has been a source of prayer, devotion, and inspiration. Part of the popularity of the Psalms is that they incorporate the entire breadth of human emotion and experience—joy, fear, anger, love—all the things we bring to God in our prayer.
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
"In the days before printed books, people must have thought and felt differently about words on the page: words were written with discipline, slowly and thoughtfully. It was a kind of outward expression of that ruminating over the words of the Bible which shaped the inner world of reflective believers, especially monks. This project not only revives the ancient tradition of the church sponsoring creative arts: it also offers an insight into that lost skill of patient and prayerful reading. We tend to read greedily and hastily, as we do so many other things: this beautiful text shows us a better way." -- Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
"Psalms brings Scripture alive--engaging us fully in heart and mind. It would make a thoughtful, lasting gift as well, at Easter or any time." -- The Catholic Book Club Newsletter
"Psalms, as does the first volume of this series, brings Scripture alive--engaging us fully in heart and mind. It would make a thoughtful, lasting gift as well, at Easter or any time." -- America
"The favorite choice of most readers of the Bible has now appeared in a strikingly beautiful handwritten illuminated text that will encourage those who pray the psalms to ponder then contemplatively, leading them into the presence of the God of the First Covenant on Mount Sinai." -- Prairie Messenger
"This text is meant not only to be beautiful, like a museum object, but to inspire a renewed love of scripture. It is meant to be read at home and used in liturgy." -- The Christian Century
"Psalms brings Scripture alive--engaging us fully in heart and mind. It would make a thoughtful, lasting gift as well, at Easter or any time." -- The Catholic Book Club Newsletter
"Psalms, as does the first volume of this series, brings Scripture alive--engaging us fully in heart and mind. It would make a thoughtful, lasting gift as well, at Easter or any time." -- America
"The favorite choice of most readers of the Bible has now appeared in a strikingly beautiful handwritten illuminated text that will encourage those who pray the psalms to ponder then contemplatively, leading them into the presence of the God of the First Covenant on Mount Sinai." -- Prairie Messenger
"This text is meant not only to be beautiful, like a museum object, but to inspire a renewed love of scripture. It is meant to be read at home and used in liturgy." -- The Christian Century
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Manuscript,
By
This review is from: Saint John's Bible: Psalms (Hardcover)
Looking at some of the previous reviews, it seems that the other reviewers are missing the point. This wasn't done by a computer; it was done by hand. "Increase the font size?" It isn't possible. It's not like it is a TrueType font on a computer. As for the lack of ornamentation, everyone is missing the point: the calligraphy itself is the art. NOBODY does this by hand, they haven't since the printing press was invented. The monks at St. John's Abbey did not do this to make money, or impress people, it was done to glorify God. If you need lots of pretty pictures to distract you while reading the Psalms, you are missing the point of the Psalms as well as the point of this project. When I think of the monks pouring over every word, making sure each stroke is perfect, that's all the inspiration I need.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Calligraphy sorely misunderstood,
By _ "codyu" (GTS-NYC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Saint John's Bible: Psalms (Hardcover)
Donald Jackson and his colleagues let their calligraphic skills shine in this volume of The Saint John's Bible. Unfortunately, many readers purchased this book hoping for the same level of illustration found in the Gospels and Acts voulme. What the detractors of Psalms utterly fail to understand is Jackson's intent to let the text of the psalms speak free from the artist's interpretation. The Psalms are perhaps the most personal texts in all of the Bible; it would have been truly unfortunate if the artist had imposed his vision on the psalms, rather than respecting their integrity as texts of personal and liturgical prayer.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Caligraphy,
By
This review is from: Saint John's Bible: Psalms (Hardcover)
The beauty of this book is that it allows the words of the Psalms to sing. The calligrapher's art never gets in the way of the prayers. The other books that the monks of St John's Abbey have caused to be created are perfect and the illuminated texts are a feast for the eye. Sometimes though, we Americans just need to step back and savor the beauty of words. Donald Jackson has given us that opportunity. Savor it.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
