Demonstration of a 15th century Gutenberg printing press

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’ sake.”

This was the Bible passage the FPC Mission team chose to print on the occasion of the medieval fete organised by the town of Drulingen on Saturday, 24^th June.

Samuel and Denis were on hand to demonstrate and work a reproduction of Gutenberg’s printing press. It was his invention of printing around 1450 that made possible the first printed version of the Holy Bible. Émile was also available to explain further to people who wanted to go deeper into the subject. A number of people were able to discover how the press works and take away the portion of Psalm 23 printed in a variety of translations and typographic characters.

The team was abetted by a binder, a calligrapher and an exposé of the “Hortus Deliciarum”, one of Alsace’s most famous ancient manuscripts dating from the 12^th century and originating in the Convent of Mount St Odile. The abbess Harrade wrote this manual of instruction for young ladies of the aristocracy living in the convent based on the Song of Solomon, which is at the heart of the Bible.

The day passed in a good atmosphere. The heat didn’t deter the many visitors from visiting the various stands and attractions all over the village, nor from enjoying Alsatian cullinary specialities prepared especially for the occasion.

Sandrine L.