Pilgrimage and Scripture. Holy Places and Holy Books at the Ruusbroecgenootschap and the Special Collections

The Library of the Ruusbroecgenootschap and the Special Collections Department of the Antwerp University Library hold a generous collection of old prints with focal such as devotional literature, Jesuit literature and religious writings. In this way, they are the perfect illustration of religious life in the past and fit in closely with the theme Holy Places, Holy Books. For this theme, we have selected some beautiful examples of both specialized and more vulgarizing religious texts. Important Bible editions and Gospels are flanked by popular schoolbooks with Bible stories, narrations about the life of Christ, or biblical histories with didctic purposes. For those among the faithful who had received but little education there were also many devotional prints that were heavily used by the clergy. Places of pilgrimage also freely made use of the printing press; both for the promotione of the places themselves and for financing their organization. For this reason, we do not only show miracle books, but also examples of pilgrimage prints, vanes and house blessings as they were traded at Flanders’ most important pilgrimage places.

Open Monday 15 September until Friday 10 October during the library hours, Antwerp University Library.