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On Saturday, May 13, 2006, members of Thomas Aquinas College’s class of 2006 were granted the degree of bachelor of arts in liberal arts in recognition of their successful completion of the College’s rigorous program of Catholic liberal education. Hailing from across the United States and abroad, 78 young men and women received their diplomas from the presiding prelate and Commencement speaker, His Excellency Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations. This was the largest graduating class in the College’s 35-year history. In his commencement address, Archbishop Migliore spoke about the proper pride the graduates should take in the work that God has brought to completion in them. Commenting on the breadth of their studies at the College, he went on to say, “In your study of physics, you most likely came across that famous quote by Archimedes: ‘Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I can move the earth.’ Our world, our society desperately needs a jolt. Thomas Aquinas College strives to give its students ‘the lever long enough,’ in the form of the highest level of education. In addition, you have the most important element, ‘the place to stand’ to use that lever….Now, it is up to you to make good use of that lever.” (See article below for complete text.) Earlier in the morning, Archbishop Migliore was the principal celebrant of the Baccalaureate Mass. In his homily, the Apostolic Nuncio urged the graduating seniors to live the words of the Gospel—literally: “One time, live the word that speaks of justice, another time a word that speaks of forgiveness, another one that expresses communion with our brothers and sisters, and yet another word that speaks of prayer. Threading together our experiences and knowledge of these words…we are clothed with the Word of God…” (See page 4 for complete text.) In recognition of Archbishop Migliore’s extraordinary dedication to God and His Church, and by resolution of the Governors of the College, Chairman of the Board, Mrs. Maria Grant, awarded him the College’s highest honor, the St. Thomas Aquinas Medallion, during the commencement ceremony. Past recipients include Cardinal Arinze, Cardinal Schönborn, Cardinal Dulles, Cardinal Stafford, and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Reflecting on the Apostolic Nuncio’s visit, President Dillon said, “Since being ordained to the priesthood in 1977, Archbishop Migliore has faithfully served the Church as a member of the Vatican Diplomatic Corps. It was, therefore, an honor to have with us one who for nearly all of his priestly life has been at the forefront of the Church’s mission to advance Christ and His teachings among the nations of men.” The class of 2006 elected as its speaker, Thomas Waldstein of Gaming, Austria whose father, Michael (’77), had received the same honor 29 years before. When Thomas took the podium, he addressed the 1200 assembled guests in eloquent terms, reflecting first on the heights attainable by human wisdom and the necessity for doing well the work of the lower arts and sciences because they are, in turn, ordered to theology. ”In his Incarnation,” he said, “Our Lord has revealed to us truth far surpassing the natural power of human reason. This is the wisdom that we have sought in these past four years.” He encouraged his fellow classmates to continue to seek the truth whether it be in their graduate studies, work, family or parish. Exhorting them to follow St. Thomas’ example of humility, he said, “In whatever state of life we enter, let us pour out our lives in love of neighbor for the love of God that our lives may be united to the sacrifice of Christ, an acceptable offering to the Lord.” (See page 5 for complete text.) Mr. Waldstein will enter a Cistercian seminary in his native Austria to study and prepare for the priesthood. He is one of six in the Class of 2006 who will enter seminaries both in the United States and abroad; and one young lady will enter the religious life. Still others will pursue advanced degrees in law, medicine, nursing, journalism, education, philosophy, and theology at institutions such as Northwestern, Princeton, Purdue, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Chicago. As though in response to Archbishop Migliore’s urging that they take pride in what God had accomplished in them, the Class of 2006 rose at the end of the ceremony to sing the stirring hymn they had prepared, a hymn that has been sung by graduating seniors at the College’s 31 previous commencement ceremonies: Non Nobis Domine, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory.”
-- Qtrly Newsletter, Summer 2006 |
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